MDS Proteomics acquires top quality cDNA collection
06-Feb-2002
Deal with Kazusa DNA Research Institute fuels MDS Proteomics’ Drug Discovery Technology Platform
TORONTO - February 05, 2002 - MDS proteomics Inc. announced today that they have acquired a collection of nearly 2,000 disease related, full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) clones, providing the raw material for proteomics-based drug discovery research. The three-year deal with Japan’s Kazusa DNA Research Institute, a leading supplier of high quality cDNA, provides MDS Proteomics with access to one of the richest cDNA collections in the world.
"This partnership with Kazusa is a major step in enabling MDS Proteomics to meet our goal of discovering 1,000 new drug targets in the next five years by mapping human disease pathways." said Frank Gleeson, president and chief executive officer, MDS Proteomics. "Access to Kazusa's collection of cDNA is essential to creating focused maps of important human diseases - ultimately leading to the faster development of safer, more targeted medicines."
cDNAs are key reagents for proteomics-based research. MDS Proteomics will use Kazusa’s disease related clones as entry points or "genetic baits" in its automated process for rapidly mapping disease pathways and determining protein function and cell regulation. By creating maps of disease states such as breast cancer, the company can precisely locate disease-associated proteins for treatment with more specific and effective drugs.
Today's announcement comes on the heels of the company’s groundbreaking research announced recently in Nature, in which it identified and analyzed 25% of the yeast proteome. This is a further demonstration that MDS Proteomics has moved aggressively to apply its platform to discover new treatments for human diseases. The acquisition of these highly targeted reagents will provide MDS Proteomics’ researchers with the tools to develop better therapeutics through the selection of safer, more precise drug targets, leading to fewer side effects.
About MDS Proteomics
A pioneer in the field of proteomic-enabled drug discovery, MDS Proteomics' goal is to transform the productivity of the pharmaceutical industry in discovering and developing new medicines for the treatment of disease. The company has developed exceptional capabilities in proteomics systems, technology, supercomputing, drug design, screening and biology and is uniquely positioned to build an effective bridge between gene discovery and therapeutic development. This distinctive capability is being used in collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as for the development of the company's own product pipeline. In its proteomics facilities in Europe and North America, the company focuses on drug target discovery and validation for both antibody and small molecule therapeutics. MDS Proteomics is a majority-owned subsidiary of MDS Inc. For more information on MDS Proteomics, visit the company's Web site at www.mdsp.com.
About MDS Inc.
MDS Inc. (NYSE: MDZ; TSE: MDS) is an international health and Life Sciences. Its products and services include: laboratory testing, imaging agents for nuclear medicine testing, sterilization systems for medical and consumer products, research and clinical development services for planning and delivery of cancer treatment, analytical instruments to assist in the development of new drugs, and medical/surgical supplies. MDS employs more than 10,000 highly skilled people at its global operations on four continents. Detailed information about the company is available at the MDS Web site at www.mdsintl.com.
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