UCB, Inc. Works With Congenica To Support Rare Disease Genomic Research
The advent of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) has revolutionised rare disease genomic research, to improve diagnosis and discover novel causative genes. UCB, a global biopharmaceutical leader, is harnessing these advances to unpick the mechanisms behind novel rare diseases as a means for better understanding fundamental biological processes.
UCB’s goal is to transform this insight into first-in-class therapies that dramatically benefit the lives of patients with unmet medical need in its core therapeutic areas of autoimmune and inflammatory disease, and diseases of the Central Nervous System.
To achieve this goal, UCB will work with Congenica, a leading developer of genome analytics and clinical interpretation technologies.
Congenica’s Sapientia™ technology provides an environment for cutting-edge genome sequence analysis and interpretation, under-pinned by an extensive phenotype knowledge-base that provides support for genetic diagnosis, and a variety of integrated annotation tools.
Congenica has continued to demonstrate value through its agreements with NHS clinical genetic testing centres in the UK, but this will be the company’s first foray into the pharmaceutical arena.
Martin Armstrong, Senior Director of Molecular Genetics at UCB explains: “Generating sequencing data is not the challenge, making sense of it is. In order to realise our aims we need to be able to analyse and interpret NGS data in the correct biological context and in a manner that allows us to make informed decisions on what might, or might not be, a relevant target or mechanism to pursue.
The competitive advantage will be achieved by doing this in an efficient and objective manner, integrating supporting data from multiple sources and making use of the latest analytical tools and platforms, both those developed within UCB and those developed by expert companies working in the field.”
Matthew Page, Senior Principal Scientist at UCB, continues, “This arrangement will provide access to a cutting edge genome sequence analysis and decision support environment that will help us effectively resolve the genetic origins of rare disease.”
Tom Weaver, CEO of Congenica, states, “As a leader in the genomic interpretation field, Congenica is excited to begin working with UCB, enabling researchers to bridge genomics and drug development and bring much needed treatments to rare disease patients.
This project serves as a testament that Sapientia is not only beneficial in the clinical diagnostic setting, but also in the pharmaceutical setting. We look forward to supporting UCB in establishing new paradigms through its pioneering rare disease programme.”
Genomic medicine is transforming the way that diseases are classified and treated creating opportunities for new approaches to drug discovery and development. Through this arrangement, Congenica and UCB hope to make significant advances that will positively impact patients’ lives.
- ENDS -
For UCB media enquiries:
Scott Fleming, Communications Director, UCB, British & Irish Isles
T: +44 770.277.7378, E: scott.fleming@ucb.com
Media enquiries about Congenica:
Sarah Carr/Rachel Holdsworth, Holdsworth Associates PR;
Tel: +44 1954 202789 or email: sarah.carr@holdsworth-associates.co.uk
About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8,500 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of € 3.3 billion in 2014. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).
About Congenica
Congenica is a world leading developer of genome-based discovery and diagnostic technologies, and is a spinout from The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
Congenica has developed the Sapientia™ technology platform, which allows genome scale DNA sequence data to be presented within a clinically actionable diagnostic report. It is based on pioneering research from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, NHS clinicians and regional genetic testing laboratories. This underlying technology has been validated by leading independent institutes and clinicians, including Genomics England Ltd, and has been adopted by NHS Genetics Centres.
It was founded by six world leading geneticists and bioinformaticians in genomic sequencing, including Dr Richard Durbin who led the international 1,000 Genomes Project and the 10,000 Genomes Project, and Dr Matthew Hurles, Senior Group Leader at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and a leader in the Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) project.
It is supported by Amadeus Capital Partners and Cambridge Innovation Capital.
For further information see www.congenica.com.
UCB’s goal is to transform this insight into first-in-class therapies that dramatically benefit the lives of patients with unmet medical need in its core therapeutic areas of autoimmune and inflammatory disease, and diseases of the Central Nervous System.
To achieve this goal, UCB will work with Congenica, a leading developer of genome analytics and clinical interpretation technologies.
Congenica’s Sapientia™ technology provides an environment for cutting-edge genome sequence analysis and interpretation, under-pinned by an extensive phenotype knowledge-base that provides support for genetic diagnosis, and a variety of integrated annotation tools.
Congenica has continued to demonstrate value through its agreements with NHS clinical genetic testing centres in the UK, but this will be the company’s first foray into the pharmaceutical arena.
Martin Armstrong, Senior Director of Molecular Genetics at UCB explains: “Generating sequencing data is not the challenge, making sense of it is. In order to realise our aims we need to be able to analyse and interpret NGS data in the correct biological context and in a manner that allows us to make informed decisions on what might, or might not be, a relevant target or mechanism to pursue.
The competitive advantage will be achieved by doing this in an efficient and objective manner, integrating supporting data from multiple sources and making use of the latest analytical tools and platforms, both those developed within UCB and those developed by expert companies working in the field.”
Matthew Page, Senior Principal Scientist at UCB, continues, “This arrangement will provide access to a cutting edge genome sequence analysis and decision support environment that will help us effectively resolve the genetic origins of rare disease.”
Tom Weaver, CEO of Congenica, states, “As a leader in the genomic interpretation field, Congenica is excited to begin working with UCB, enabling researchers to bridge genomics and drug development and bring much needed treatments to rare disease patients.
This project serves as a testament that Sapientia is not only beneficial in the clinical diagnostic setting, but also in the pharmaceutical setting. We look forward to supporting UCB in establishing new paradigms through its pioneering rare disease programme.”
Genomic medicine is transforming the way that diseases are classified and treated creating opportunities for new approaches to drug discovery and development. Through this arrangement, Congenica and UCB hope to make significant advances that will positively impact patients’ lives.
- ENDS -
For UCB media enquiries:
Scott Fleming, Communications Director, UCB, British & Irish Isles
T: +44 770.277.7378, E: scott.fleming@ucb.com
Media enquiries about Congenica:
Sarah Carr/Rachel Holdsworth, Holdsworth Associates PR;
Tel: +44 1954 202789 or email: sarah.carr@holdsworth-associates.co.uk
About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With more than 8,500 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of € 3.3 billion in 2014. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).
About Congenica
Congenica is a world leading developer of genome-based discovery and diagnostic technologies, and is a spinout from The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
Congenica has developed the Sapientia™ technology platform, which allows genome scale DNA sequence data to be presented within a clinically actionable diagnostic report. It is based on pioneering research from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, NHS clinicians and regional genetic testing laboratories. This underlying technology has been validated by leading independent institutes and clinicians, including Genomics England Ltd, and has been adopted by NHS Genetics Centres.
It was founded by six world leading geneticists and bioinformaticians in genomic sequencing, including Dr Richard Durbin who led the international 1,000 Genomes Project and the 10,000 Genomes Project, and Dr Matthew Hurles, Senior Group Leader at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and a leader in the Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) project.
It is supported by Amadeus Capital Partners and Cambridge Innovation Capital.
For further information see www.congenica.com.