Proteomics, the study of the proteins implicated in disease, has received a major boost. The technology, largely pioneeered by UK biotechnology company Oxford GlycoSciences, has validated protein targets which will lead to the development of new drugs to treat respiratory diseases.
OGS has announced today that Bayer AG has accepted the first protein targets resulting from their ongoing research collaboration. OGS’ proteomics technology has been used for the identification of clinically valid therapeutic targets and biomarkers in the areas of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), meeting Bayer’s stringent validation requirements.
Using clinical samples provided by Bayer, OGS has built a human pulmonary disease protein expression database and identified a series of clinically valid therapeutic targets against which drugs will be developed for patients suffering from either disease. The targets will now go into screening for the discovery of potential therapeutic drugs.
Acceptance of these targets is a landmark in the OGS/Bayer agreement and triggers an undisclosed milestone payment.
The original collaboration was initiated in March 2000. “The acceptance of the targets is both a milestone under the agreement and a landmark for the proteomics platform,” said Dr David Ebsworth, Chief Executive Officer of OGS. “Bayer’s acceptance of these targets validates our on-going investment in our proteomics platform and our belief that proteomics can play a vital role in helping to accelerate drug discovery and development programmes.”
“Genomics has thrown up thousands of targets, and not necessarily good ones. But drugs bind to proteins so finding the relevant protein in a disease situation takes us much closer to developing the appropriate drug,” added Andrew Lyall, OGS Director of Proteome Discovery.
www.ogs.com

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