Althea’s Express Profiling Technology Used In High-Throughput Multiplexed Gene Expression Study
Results of a pioneering study using multiplexed gene expression in compound library screening published in the Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
SAN DIEGO – February 11, 2003 – Althea Technologies, Inc., a leader in high- throughput, gene expression analysis, announced today that the results of a pioneering study using multiplexed gene expression in compound library screening were published in the December 2002 edition of the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.
The study, using Althea’s eXpress Profiling technology, was reported in the article entitled “Multiplex Gene Expression Analysis for High-Throughput Drug Discovery: Screening and Analysis of Compounds Affecting Genes Overexpressed in Cancer Cells”. The paper highlights the use of Althea’s high-throughput gene expression technology for lead compound screening and optimization in order to enhance the drug discovery process. The study, conducted in collaboration with Berlex Biosciences, the United States affiliate of Schering AG Germany based in Richmond, California, utilized eXpress Profiling to screen a compound library by monitoring the effects of chemical treatment on the expression of seven key cancer gene targets, along with several control genes, in parallel. Out of the 20,000 compound library, nearly 200 qualified hits were generated. Furthermore, eXpress Profiling was used to determine multigenic IC50 values for the top hits.
“We foresee eXpress Profiling providing a new way for researchers to identify and optimize lead compounds based on multigenic information. Using gene expression, one can simultaneously track multiple markers associated with potency, specificity and toxicology,” stated Dr. Monforte, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Althea.
Microarray studies are beginning to identify much smaller sets of genes. These gene sets of 10 to 100 genes provide key expression signatures for tracking disease type and progression, as well as other biological responses. Use of eXpress Profiling technology for high-throughput, gene expression analysis of small gene sets may help researchers advance their studies to the next level much quicker. The technology, acquired by Althea Technologies from GeneTrace Systems, is being utilized for many applications, including disease modeling, target discovery and validation, toxicological screening, animal typing, and agricultural breeding. Althea offers the eXpress Profiling technology both as a service and for licensing.
About Althea Technologies, Inc.
Althea Technologies’ focus is on accelerating gene-based drug development by supporting researchers worldwide in their attempts to understand the mechanisms of disease and develop new therapeutics. Althea’s services include gene expression analyses using its proprietary eXpress Profiling technology, custom genomic analyses using real-time PCR, and cGMP plasmid DNA production for genetic vaccines and gene therapy products. For more information, visit www.altheatech.com.
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Contact:
Althea Technologies, Inc.
David Vandertie
Vice President and CFO
(858) 909-5139?dvandertie@altheatech.com