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Investors News Press Releases 2003 Cyclacel And MRC geneservice Sign Distribution Agreement For Drosophila Genome RNAi Collection Press Releases
Cyclacel And MRC geneservice Sign Distribution Agreement For Drosophila Genome RNAi Collection
Dundee, UK - 9 October 2003 - Cyclacel Limited, the UK-based biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it had entered into a worldwide distribution agreement with MRC geneservice for Cyclacel’s proprietary Drosophila RNA interference (RNAi) collection. Cyclacel will receive double-digit royalties from sales booked by MRC geneservice.
The Drosophila RNAi set covers approximately 13,600 genes defined in the FlyBase Drosophila genome database1. The set was produced by Cyclacel’s Polgen® Division in the context of a whole genome screening programme to identify novel genes involved in mitosis.
Cyclacel scientists are currently validating the genes identified in the whole genome screen and assessing their suitability as drug targets in Cyclacel’s in-house drug design programmes or those undertaken by licensing partners. In addition Polgen scientists under the direction of Prof. Glover are utilising the RNAi collection to screen for new targets to other parts of the cell cycle and additional biological pathways.
Dr Graham Bell, General Manager, Polgen Division said, “With our automated high throughput screening system we can rapidly and efficiently knock out every gene in the Drosophila genome in a highly specific manner. Cyclacel’s initial screening efforts focused on genes involved in mitosis and identified over 100 potential drug targets for cancer therapy. Using appropriately designed screens we can identify genes involved in specific functions and therapeutic areas. We welcome enquiries from prospective partners interested in entering into productive research collaborations.”
Dr Tom Weaver, Chief Executive of MRC geneservice said, “We welcome this partnership with Cyclacel since it provides access to an invaluable resource for both the academic and industrial research communities. Cyclacel’s RNAi enabling technology will enhance discovery programmes through systematic screening of gene function in a proven model organism.”
MRC geneservice, a unit of the Medical Research Council, distributes worldwide genomic research reagents such as Cyclacel’s RNAi set. Cyclacel’s Drosophila RNAi collection represents MRC geneservice’s second “whole-genome” RNAi product after Caernorhabditis elegans. The C. Elegans RNAi library has been distributed to numerous laboratories around the globe and has led to important scientific discoveries.
About Cyclacel ( www.cyclacel.com )
Cyclacel is a biopharmaceutical company that designs and develops small molecule drugs that act on cell cycle regulators to stop uncontrolled cell division in cancer and other diseases involving abnormal cell proliferation. Cyclacel discovery integrates cell cycle biology expertise with a library of gene-based targets, RNAi functional genomics, chemogenomics and clinical biomarker technologies to rapidly deliver new drugs. The Company has six research and development programs underway. Most advanced is CYC202, a Cyclin Dependent Kinase (CDK) inhibitor, in Phase II trials for breast and lung cancer. It is also being explored for use in glomerulonephritis, an inflammatory disease associated with kidney cell proliferation. CYC381, a clotrimazole analogue acting on the cancer cell cycle, is in preclinical development. Cyclacel has entered into corporate alliances with AstraZeneca, CV Therapeutics and a top 5 pharmaceutical major all in the oncology field.
1. FlyBase is the Drosophila research community’s database and is maintained by the FlyBase Consortium(http://flybase.bio.indiana.edu/) .
