Structural Bioinformatics Inc. and AtheroGenics Announce Drug Discovery Collaboration.Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2002 Structural Bioinformatics Structural bioinformatics refers to the branch of bioinformatics which is related to the analysis and prediction of the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules such as proteins. Inc. (SBI SBI Special Background Investigation SBI Subsidiary Body for Implementation SBI State Bank of India SBI Secure Border Initiative SBI Small Business Institute SBI Stockholm Brain Institute SBI Serious Bacterial Infection SBI Society of Breast Imaging ), a proteomics-driven drug discovery company, and AtheroGenics Inc. (Nasdaq:AGIX AGIX AtheroGenics, Inc (stock symbol) ), a pharmaceutical company focused upon novel therapeutics for chronic inflammatory diseases, announced today that they have entered into an agreement that provides AtheroGenics access to SBI's computational technology along with its X-ray crystallography X-ray crystallography, the study of crystal structures through X-ray diffraction techniques. When an X-ray beam bombards a crystalline lattice in a given orientation, the beam is scattered in a definite manner characterized by the atomic structure of the lattice. program to advance internal drug discovery efforts. In this collaboration, Atlanta-based AtheroGenics will seek to accelerate and optimize the drug discovery process for novel therapeutic targets through the use of SBI's proprietary technology. Under the terms of this agreement, AtheroGenics will provide a novel therapeutic target derived from their MEKK MEKK MAP/Erk Kinase Kinase technology platform. SBI will utilize its innovative computational technology along with its X-ray crystallography expertise to gain detailed knowledge of the target's protein structure and to assist in the identification of new therapeutic agents. Financial terms were not disclosed. "SBI's proprietary technology greatly accelerates the drug discovery process and we are delighted to be working with AtheroGenics to assist them in determining the protein structures of this exciting new target," stated David D. Muth, President and 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. of SBI. "We are pleased to be working with SBI, a company we consider to be a leader in structural proteomics and computational methodology," stated Martin Wasserman, Ph.D., Vice President of Discovery Research and Chief Scientific Officer of AtheroGenics. "We view this collaboration as an opportunity to accelerate our research and discovery efforts to the nomination of clinical candidates." About SBI SBI is a privately-held proteomics-driven drug discovery company utilizing proprietary technologies for accelerating and optimizing the drug discovery process. SBI incorporates these technologies to advance its own drug pipeline, and concurrently markets them to pharmaceutical and to other drug discovery-focused biotech companies. SBI's internal drug discovery programs are focused on diabetes, cancer, and inflammatory and infectious diseases. SBI's Genes to Leads(R) technology produces drug leads in as little as 60 days, with an efficiency that is more than 1,000-fold greater than high-throughput screening. SBI is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in Cambridge, Mass.; Washington, D.C. and Horsholm, Denmark. More information may be found on SBI's Web site at www.strubix.com. About AtheroGenics AtheroGenics is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, including heart disease (atherosclerosis), rheumatoid arthritis rheumatoid arthritis Chronic, progressive autoimmune disease causing connective-tissue inflammation, mostly in synovial joints. It can occur at any age, is more common in women, and has an unpredictable course. and asthma. The company has four drug development programs in the clinic. Protocols are currently being defined for a Phase III program for the company's most advanced clinical compound, AGI-1067, as an oral therapy for atherosclerosis. AGI-1067 is being studied in an ongoing Phase IIb clinical trial for the treatment of atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis. AGIX-4207, the company's second clinical compound derived from its proprietary v-protectant technology platform, is a novel, oral agent being tested in a Phase II clinical program for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. AGIX-4207 I.V. is an intravenous rheumatoid arthritis treatment that has completed a Phase I clinical study. AGI-1096 is a novel, oral agent that has completed a Phase I clinical trial Noun 1. phase I clinical trial - a clinical trial on a few persons to determine the safety of a new drug or invasive medical device; for drugs, dosage or toxicity limits should be obtained phase I for the prevention of organ transplant rejection. For more information about AtheroGenics, please visit www.atherogenics.com. This press 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. Such statements are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and performances to differ materially from those referred to in such statements. These risks include statements which address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, such as projections about our future results of operations or our financial condition, research, development and commercialization of our product candidates, anticipated trends in our business, and other risks that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks are discussed in AtheroGenics' Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the risks discussed in AtheroGenics' Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for fiscal 2001 and Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. for the second quarter of 2002, all of which filings are incorporated by reference into this press release. These documents may be examined at public reference facilities maintained by the SEC or, to the extent filed via EDGAR Edgar or Eadgar (both: ĕd`gər), 943?–975, king of the English (959–75), son of Edmund, king of Wessex. In 957 the Mercians and Northumbrians rebelled against Edgar's brother Edwy and chose Edgar as their king. , accessed through the SEC's web site http://www.sec.gov. |
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