Collaboration Based on Compugen Discovered VEGF Receptor Splice Variant
TEL AVIV, Israel--(Business Wire)--
Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ:CGEN) announced today that it has signed a research and
license agreement with a leading diagnostic company covering CGEN-226, a novel
biomarker candidate for early detection of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is the
most common of the dangerous pregnancy complications, occurring in 5-8% of all
pregnancies, with potentially very serious effects for both the mother and the
fetus. For competitive reasons, the diagnostic company requested that their
identity not be disclosed.
At present, attempts at early diagnosis of preeclampsia rely largely on symptoms
which are non-specific to the disease. If the condition is not recognized, and
the pregnancy is left to continue to full term, the disease will progress to
eclampsia, often resulting in seizure, coma and mortality. Therefore, diagnosing
preeclampsia in the early stages of a pregnancy is a field of high interest to
the medical community and diagnostic industry.
CGEN-226 is a soluble splice variant of the vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF) receptor 1 gene. This previously unknown splice variant was predicted and
selected through the use of Compugen`s in silico modeling of the human
transcriptome and proteome for the discovery of novel molecules for diagnostic
and therapeutic uses. Following its in silico prediction and selection, CGEN-226
was validated experimentally, and patent applications covering this novel splice
variant were made for various diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Prior to the Compugen discovery and validation of CGEN-226, a different soluble
form of the VEGF receptor 1 was shown to be produced by the placenta and to be
elevated in the blood stream of pregnant women who develop preeclampsia.
However, the Compugen discovered CGEN-226 has subsequently been shown to be the
primary soluble VEGF receptor 1 in the circulation of women with preeclampsia.
This finding further supports Compugen`s prediction that this variant is a
candidate biomarker suitable to serve as a basis for a diagnostic test
discriminating normal pregnancy and that with preeclampsia, even prior to
clinical manifestation.
About Preeclampsia& Eclampsia
Preeclampsia, also referred to as toxemia, is the most common of the dangerous
pregnancy complications, occurring in 5-8% of pregnancies and affecting both the
mother and the fetus. Preeclampsia, when present, usually appears during the
second half of pregnancy and is diagnosed when a pregnant woman develops high
blood pressure and the presence of significant amounts of protein in the
mother`s urine (Proteinuria). Blood pressure elevation involves generalized
damage to the maternal endothelium, kidney and liver. The exact pathogenesis of
preeclampsia is still not certain. Studies have shown that hypoxia, resulting
from inadequate blood supply to the placenta, leads to a release of systemic
vasoactive compounds, among them soluble VEGF receptor 1, that cause an
exaggerated inflammatory response, vasoconstriction, endothelial damage and
restriction of placental growth.
Eclampsia is the final and most severe phase of preeclampsia and occurs when
preeclampsia is left untreated. In addition to the previously mentioned
symptoms, women with eclampsia often have seizures. Eclampsia can cause coma and
even death of the mother and fetus or baby, and can occur before, during or
after childbirth.
Preeclampsia is currently detected only after its onset, usually by routine
measurement of blood pressure in the third trimester. If preeclampsia is
recognized, in almost all cases the mother will undergo either Caesarean section
or induction of labor. Therefore, the ability to accurately predict patients at
risk for this dangerous condition would be of great value, enabling close
surveillance and dramatically reducing costs of antenatal care and neonatal
intensive care.
About Splice Variants
The phenomena of alternative splicing, whereby a single gene can result in
multiple transcripts (i.e. "splice variants") and thereafter, proteins, is now
well known and should be taken into consideration in essentially all aspects of
molecular biology. In the late 1990`s Compugen pioneered this understanding
through the use of its first infrastructure platform, LEADS. By incorporating
the predictive modeling of alternative splicing and other proprietary genomic
understandings, LEADs facilitated the in silico prediction of the human
transcriptome, and subsequently the human proteome. This early understanding of
alternative splicing and additional biological processes, and the resulting
predictive transcriptome and proteome, have served as a basis for many of
Compugen`s subsequent research breakthroughs and discovery platforms. The
importance and extent of alternative splicing, as earlier predicted by Compugen,
was further evidenced upon the completion of the Human Genome Project.
About Compugen
Compugen is a leading drug and diagnostic product candidate discovery company.
Unlike traditional high throughput trial and error experimental based discovery,
Compugen`s discovery efforts are based on in silico (by computer) prediction and
selection utilizing a growing number of field focused proprietary discovery
platforms accurately modeling biological processes at the molecular level. The
resulting product candidates are then validated through in vitro and in vivo
experimental studies and out-licensed for further development and
commercialization under various forms of revenue sharing agreements. Compugen`s
collaborations include Bayer Schering Pharma, Biosite, Medarex, Inc., Merck &
Co., Inc., Merck Serono, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics (a Johnson & Johnson
company), Roche, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc., and Teva Pharmaceutical
Industries. In 2002, Compugen established an affiliate, Evogene Ltd.
www.evogene.com (TASE: EVGN.TA), to utilize certain of the Company`s in silico
predictive discovery capabilities in agricultural biotechnology. For additional
information, please visit Compugen's corporate website at www.cgen.com.
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
include words such as "may", "expects", "anticipates", "believes", and
"intends", and describe opinions about future events. These forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the
actual results, performance or achievements of Compugen to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these risks are: acceptance
of its business model by major pharmaceutical companies; possible inability to
become profitable; inability to raise capital to sustain its operations;
inability to enter into favorable arrangements with collaborators; inability of
collaborators to successfully develop drugs based on our candidates; changes in
relationships with collaborators; the impact of competitive products and
technological changes; risks relating to the development of new products; and
the ability to implement technological improvements. These and other factors are
identified and more fully explained under the heading "Risk Factors" in
Compugen's annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Compugen Ltd.
Marjie Hadad, +972-54-536-5220
Global Media Liaison
marjie@cgen.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
