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SomaLogic and Otsuka Enter Into Research Collaboration
SomaLogic and Otsuka Enter Into Research Collaboration
BOULDER, Colo., May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- SomaLogic, Inc. announced today that
SomaLogic and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. entered into a collaboration
agreement to use SomaLogic's proprietary aptamer technology to discover and
develop novel diagnostic products and to design research tools that will
enhance Otsuka's pharmaceutical discovery and development efforts. Under the
terms of the agreement, SomaLogic will receive committed research funding and
will be entitled to receive a royalty on any marketed products developed as a
result of the collaboration. Otsuka also received an option to acquire
distribution rights inAsia for certain SomaLogic clinical diagnostics
products. In addition, SomaLogic received an equity investment from Otsuka.
Other financial terms were not disclosed.
SomaLogic has generated novel aptamers that target over 500 human
proteins. These aptamers have very high affinity and specificity. As part of
this collaboration, Otsuka will have access to this growing resource for
target validation, drug screening and other assays to accelerate their
development of new therapeutics. In addition, Otsuka will have access to
SomaLogic's highly multiplexed proteomic arrays to facilitate the discovery
and monitoring of biomarkers in support of Otsuka's clinical programs and
therapeutic products.
"We are very pleased to have Otsuka as a collaborator," stated Dr. Larry
Gold, CEO of SomaLogic. "Otsuka's broad vision for global healthcare will
help us achieve our goal of using aptamer technology to transform medicine.
Otsuka believes deeply in the SomaLogic paradigm through which early detection
and proper diagnosis of disease leads to both pharmaceutical and nutritional
intervention and better health."
About Aptamers
Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids that form well-defined
three-dimensional shapes, allowing them to bind target molecules in a manner
that is conceptually similar to antibodies. Aptamers combine the optimal
characteristics of small molecules and antibodies, including high specificity
and affinity, chemical stability, and the ability to target protein-protein
interactions. In contrast to monoclonal antibodies, aptamers are chemically
synthesized, rather than biologically expressed, and may offer significant
manufacturing advantages.
About SomaLogic
SomaLogic, Inc. is a privately-held biomarker discovery and clinical
proteomics company based inBoulder, Colorado. The company's mission is to
use its proprietary aptamer technology to develop aptamers with remarkable
affinity and specificity for their molecular targets, and to develop enhanced
protein analysis tools and reagents for the life sciences community.
SomaLogic is developing and commercializing clinical diagnostic products that
will improve the delivery of healthcare by offering timely and accurate
diagnostic information to physicians and their patients.
SomaLogic's aptamer expertise is complemented by a robust patent estate
comprised of over 220 issued and 230 pending patents covering the
identification, composition, and use of diagnostic aptamers. In addition to
the company's core aptamer generation technology, SomaLogic possesses deep
expertise in the use and development of aptamer arrays for biomarker
discovery, life sciences research, and clinical diagnostics.
Further information about SomaLogic can be found at
http://www.somalogic.com.
Direct contact can be arranged through info@somalogic.com or through Anne
Wong at awong@somalogic.com.
About Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1964, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global healthcare
company with the corporate philosophy: 'Otsuka -- people creating new products
for better health worldwide.' Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and
markets innovative and original products, with a focus on pharmaceutical
products for the treatment of diseases and consumer products for the
maintenance of everyday health. Otsuka is committed to being a corporation
that creates global value, adhering to the high ethical standards required of
a company involved in human health and life, maintaining a dynamic corporate
culture, and working in harmony with local communities and the natural
environment. The Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group comprises 99 companies and
employs approximately 31,000 people in 18 countries and regions worldwide.
Otsuka and its consolidated subsidiaries earned US $7.2 billion in annual
revenues in fiscal 2006.
SOURCE SomaLogic, Inc.
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
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