Genome Therapeutics' Scientists Identify Novel Markers for Rapid Identification of Bacterial Species.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers ASM (1) (Association for Systems Management) An international membership organization based in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1947 and disbanded in 1996, it sponsored conferences in all phases of administrative systems and management. General Meeting 2003 WALTHAM, Mass. & WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2003 Results of Collaboration With bioMerieux to Develop Next Generation Infectious Diseases Diagnostics Presented at American Society for Microbiology The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is a scientific organization, based in the United States although with over 43,000 members throughout the world. It is the largest single life science professional organization and its members include those whose interests encompass basic Meeting Researchers at Genome Therapeutics (Nasdaq: GENE), working with scientists at bioMerieux, have identified genetic markers specific to nearly 700 unique bacterial species. The results of this work were presented today at the 103rd General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), being held in Washington, DC. In a poster presentation titled, "In Silco Discovery of Unique Oligonucleotides for the Rapid Identification of Bacterial Series," D. Childress, et al. detail the results of using proprietary genomic information and advanced bioinformatics capabilities to discover novel bacterial markers for 690 species. Genome Therapeutics and bioMerieux have been collaborating on the development of next generation infectious diseases diagnostics since 1999. bioMerieux will use this information to develop assays for rapidly identifying medically-relevant bacteria. "Our research alliance with bioMerieux has focused on leveraging our proprietary microbial microbial pertaining to or emanating from a microbe. microbial digestion the breakdown of organic material, especially feedstuffs, by microbial organisms. genomic information for the discovery of distinctive genetic markers," said Steven M. Rauscher, Chairman and 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 Genome Therapeutics. "With their industry-leading diagnostic development capabilities, we are confident that bioMerieux can use our targets to develop novel assays for the identification of clinically-important pathogens." "Our efforts to produce real-time, molecular diagnostic products for the rapid identification of serious, often resistant, bacteria is supported in great part by the scientific achievements of Genome Therapeutics," stated Alain Merieux, Chairman of bioMerieux. "With faster intervention in the clinical setting, healthcare workers will be able to administer appropriate treatments, reduce hospitalization time, and help combat the development of antibiotic resistance antibiotic resistance, n the ability of certain strains of microorganisms to develop resistance to antibiotics. antibiotic resistance ." As bioMerieux develops diagnostic assays using the genetic markers discovered by Genome Therapeutics, the two companies will continue to collaborate on the further advancement of the project. As part of the agreement, Genome Therapeutics retains rights to a portion of the revenues of any products produced as a result of the alliance. Patents are pending on the targets delivered to bioMerieux by Genome Therapeutics. About Genome Therapeutics Genome Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of pharmaceutical and diagnostics products. The Company's lead product candidate, Ramoplanin, is in a Phase III clinical trial Noun 1. phase III clinical trial - a large clinical trial of a treatment or drug that in phase I and phase II has been shown to be efficacious with tolerable side effects; after successful conclusion of these clinical trials it will receive formal approval from the for the prevention of bloodstream infections caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci enterococci bacteria in the genus Enterococcus. (VRE VRE vancomycin-resistant enterococcus. VRE Vancomycin-resistent enterococcus, see there ), and in a Phase II clinical trial Noun 1. phase II clinical trial - a clinical trial on more persons than in phase I; intended to evaluate the efficacy of a treatment for the condition it is intended to treat; possible side effects are monitored phase II for the treatment of Clostridium clostridium Any of the rod-shaped, usually gram-positive bacteria (see gram stain) that make up the genus Clostridium. They are found in soil, water, and the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. Some species grow only in the complete absence of oxygen. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD CDAD Clostridium Difficile-Associated Diarrhea CDAD Component Data Administrator ). Genome Therapeutics' biopharmaceutical business includes an internal drug discovery program in the area of anti-infectives, and seven major product discovery alliances with pharmaceutical companies including Amgen, AstraZeneca, bioMerieux, Schering-Plough and Wyeth. This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent our management's judgment regarding future events. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "plan," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. We do not plan to update these forward- looking statements. You should be aware that our actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements due to a number of risks affecting our business. These risk factors include risks related to our lead product candidate, Ramoplanin, such as (i) our inability to obtain regulatory approval to commercialize Ramoplanin due to negative, inconclusive or insufficient clinical data and (ii) delays in the progress of our clinical trials for Ramoplanin, and increased cost, due to the pace of enrollment of patients in the trials or fluctuations in the infection rate of enrolled patients. We are also subject to risks related to our inability or the inability of our alliance partners to (i) successfully develop products based on our genomics information, (ii) obtain the necessary regulatory approval for such products, (iii) effectively commercialize any products developed before our competitors are able to commercialize competing products or (iv) obtain and enforce intellectual property rights. In addition, we are subject to the risk factors set forth in Exhibit 99.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and those set forth in other filings that we may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. |
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