Key Developments For Compugen Ltd.
Compugen Ltd. (CGEN.O) (Consolidated Issue listed on NASDAQ Capital Market)
Compugen Ltd. Announces Discovery of Genetic Biomarker For Predisposition To Type 2 Diabetes
Compugen Ltd. announced the discovery and experimental confirmation of a genetic biomarker, CGEN-40001 for predisposition to type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes. This new biomarker was discovered using Compugen`s GeneVa platform, which consists of an in silico database of approximately 350,000 predicted genetic variations in the human genome, with each predicted variation consisting of multiple consecutive nucleotides. Predisposition markers are of particular value in diseases like type 2 diabetes, where specific lifestyle and health factors are known to play an important role. Following diagnosis, high-risk patients may benefit from more aggressive management either through lifestyle modification or drug treatment. There are an estimated 24 million people in the U.S. with diabetes, 90% of whom are affected by type 2 diabetes. During the past few years, extensive efforts by others searching for genetic markers for type 2 diabetes have utilized numerous genome-wide association studies, involving thousands of patients globally. Several validated genetic markers have been found; however, combining all the discovered biomarkers still explains only a small fraction of the heritability of the disease, so the need for additional markers continues to exist.
Compugen Ltd. Announces Preeclampsia Biomarker Collaboration
Compugen Ltd. announced that it has signed a research and license agreement with a diagnostic company covering CGEN-226, a biomarker candidate for early detection of preeclampsia. 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.
Compugen Ltd. And Bayer Schering Pharma To Collaborate On Compugen Discovered Oncology Target And Splice Variants
Compugen Ltd. announced that they have signed a collaboration agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany (Bayer) covering the further evaluation of a Compugen discovered tumor target and its splice variants. Following an initial six month joint research stage, the agreement provides Bayer with an option for an exclusive worldwide royalty bearing license for development of monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic agents addressing these target molecules. The existence of the target and its splice variants was initially predicted in silico by Compugen through the use of its Monoclonal Antibody (mAb) Targets Discovery Platform; the predicted molecules were then validated experimentally. The newly discovered tumor target and its splice variants are previously unknown splice variants of a known cancer target for which therapeutic agents are currently in pre-clinical development by other organizations. Like the known cancer target, this protein molecule and its variants are all trans-membrane proteins. However, each of the Compugen molecules has a sequence at the extracellular domain of the protein that enables the development of monoclonal antibodies specific to each of the respective splice variants. Therefore each splice variant could represent a novel target for monoclonal antibody therapy.
Compugen Ltd. Announces Positive Therapeutic Effects Of Peptide In Animal Model Of Retinopathy
Compugen Ltd. announced that CGEN-25017, a peptide antagonist of the Angiopoietin/Tie-2 pathway, has shown positive therapeutic effects in an animal model of retinopathy, a very serious eye condition characterized by over-growth of blood vessels. CGEN-25017, which was initially discovered using Compugen`s Disease-Associated Conformation (DAC) Blockers discovery platform, had previously demonstrated significant inhibitory activity in two other models of angiogenesis, an in vitro multi-cellular assay and the widely recognized chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. In the recently completed study utilizing a rodent model of oxygen-induced retinopathy, administration of CGEN-25017 resulted in a dramatic decrease in the extent of pathological neovascularization, outperforming the positive control, soluble Tie-2. These results provide evidence for the potential use of this novel peptide in the treatment of angiogenic ocular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and retinopathy of prematurity.
Compugen Ltd. Reports Sale Of Portion Of Its Evogene Holdings
Compugen Ltd. announced that it has received approximately $3.6 million from the private sale of 1,000,000 Evogene shares to a single purchaser. The funds generated from this transaction are expected to be used by Compugen for general corporate purposes through mid 2010. After this sale, the Company continues to hold 1,150,000 Evogene shares.
