Re Agreement
24 November 2003 - 11:16AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:3994S
Proteome Sciences PLC
24 November 2003
For further information please contact:
Proteome Sciences plc Tel: +44 (0) 1932 865065
Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive Email: christopher.pearce@proteome.co.uk
www.proteome.co.uk
Public Relations of Proteome Sciences
Ikon Associates
Adrian Shaw Tel: +44 (0) 01483 271291
Mobile: + 44 (0) 797 9900733
Email: adrian@ikon-associates.com
Notes to Editors
Medical Research Council
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is a national organisation funded by the UK
tax-payer. Its business is medical research aimed at improving human health;
everyone stands to benefit from the outputs. The research it supports and the
scientists it trains meet the needs of the health services, the pharmaceutical
and other health-related industries and the academic world. MRC has funded work
which has led to some of the most significant discoveries and achievements in
medicine in the UK.. About half of the MRC's expenditure of over #413 million is
invested in its 40 Institutes, Units and Centres, where it employs its own
research staff. The remaining half goes in the form of grant support and
training awards to individuals and teams in universities and medical schools.
Web site at http://www.mrc.ac.uk
Proteome Sciences plc applies high sensitivity proteomics to identify and
characterise differential protein expression in diseases for diagnostic,
prognostic and therapeutic applications. It has to date developed sensitive
blood assays for stroke, nvCJD, BSE and solid organ transplantation.
The main focus of its research currently addresses neurological,
neurodegenerative, diabetes/obesity, oncology and cardiovascular conditions.
Commercialisation of these programmes will be effected through strategic
partnerships.
Proteome Sciences is also the largest shareholder in Intronn Inc., the US
Company that has developed SMaRT TM, a technology able to modify gene expression
at the mRNA level.
PRESS RELEASE
24 November 2003
Proteome Sciences Announces Collaboration with
Medical Research Council Prion Union on CJD and vCJD
Proteome Sciences plc ("Proteome Sciences"), a global leader in applied
proteomics, is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement today (24
November 2003) to enter into collaboration with the Medical Research Council
(MRC). Proteome Sciences will work closely with the MRC Prion Unit ("MRCPU") to
identify differential protein expression in CJD and vCJD patients.
Using samples from age and sex matched patients with CJD and vCJD, Proteome
Sciences will undertake protein separation, identification and characterisation
to search for biomarkers for new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic
applications.
CJD and vCJD are fatal diseases for which there are currently no effective
diagnostics or therapies. Identifying markers which could form the basis of
these applications remains a research priority.
Commenting on the announcement, Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive of Proteome
Sciences said:
"We are very pleased to be working with the MRCPU in CJD and vCJD. By combining
our proprietary proteomics toolkit (ProteoSHOPTM) with the expertise and
resources of the MRCPU we believe we have established an unparalleled
collaboration for the discovery and development of biomarkers for CJD and vCJD
across a range of diagnostically relevant timepoints.
Proteome Sciences' London Laboratory will look for biomarkers of CJD and vCJD
across a range of diagnostically relevant body fluids. We will apply our
proprietary methodologies to optimise the conditions for protein separation and
identification in search of new biomarkers. The is complementary to the CJD
research that we have undertaken to date in Switzerland and further validates
the strategy of applying a high sensitivity proteomic approach to enhance the
understanding of differential protein expression in this most complex and
debilitating disease".
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