| Monsanto initiates
first large-scale, genome-wide application of Incyte's DNA microarrays for functional
genomics |
Monsanto will access up to 50,000 DNA
microarrays
Palo Alto, California, and St. Louis, Missouri
May 18, 1998
Incyte Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Monsanto Company announced today that they have entered
into an agreement whereby Incyte will provide Monsanto with broad access to Incyte's gene
expression microarray technology. The three-year agreement provides Monsanto scientists
with the ability to analyze up to 500 million gene expression data points using Incyte's
GEM™ microarrays. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Under terms of the agreement, Incyte will provide data to Monsanto from custom and
pre-fabricated DNA microarrays, software to manage and analyze the data, and consulting
and software support. "The ability to measure gene expression in a highly parallel
fashion across plant, animal and human genomes will expedite the discovery of our life
sciences products of tomorrow," said Ganesh Kishore, assistant chief scientist and
chief biotechnologist of Monsanto.
"These tools will enable Monsanto scientists to better understand the potential role
of genes in
treating or preventing disease in humans, in enhancing crop quality and crop yield, and in
promoting better human health through improved nutrition in foods. These capabilities are
a critical piece of our overall effort in the area of functional genomics, an important
link between gene structure and product innovation."
With access to data from up to 50,000 DNA microarrays, Monsanto scientists can routinely
use
this technology across their life sciences projects. This technology will provide an
unprecedented
understanding of how genes respond both individually and as networks. Monsanto will have
the
ability to select microarrays containing comprehensive gene sets from all of Incyte's
genomic databases as well as genes available from Monsanto's own databases.
"This agreement with Monsanto will accelerate the achievement of our goal to provide
every Incyte
gene on a microarray and thus make whole-genome scanning a reality," said Roy A.
Whitfield, Chief Executive Officer of Incyte. "The large-scale production volume
contemplated in this agreement will allow our partners to expand the application of DNA
microarrays beyond discovery to pharmacology, toxicology, clinical trial analysis and
agricultural programs."
Incyte and Monsanto have a pre-existing agreement providing Monsanto with access to
Incyte's broad platform of genomic databases, genomic data management software, and
biological reagents including the LifeSeq human gene sequence and expression database, the
LifeSeq FL database of full-length genes, the LifeSeq Atlas gene mapping database, the
LifeSeq GeneAlbum cDNA clone reagent set, the PathoSeq microbial database, the ZooSeq
animal gene sequence and expression database, and the LifeTools bioinformatics software
data management system.
As a life sciences company, Monsanto is committed to finding solutions to the growing
global needs for food and health by sharing common forms of science and technology among
agriculture, nutrition and health. The company's 21,900 employees worldwide make and
market high-value agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients.
Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leading provider of an integrated platform of genomic
technologies designed to aid in the understanding of the molecular basis of disease.
Incyte's platform includes database products, genomic data management software tools,
microarrays, and related reagents and services which Incyte provides to the pharmaceutical
and biotechnology industries to assist their drug discovery and development efforts.
Incyte employs over 650 people located at its headquarters in Palo Alto, California, and
operations in Fremont, California, St. Louis, Missouri and Cambridge, UK. N1681 |
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