THE WOODLANDS, Texas and MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexicon Genetics Incorporated and Cetek Corporation announced today an agreement under which Cetek will provide Lexicon with a library derived from natural products for use by Lexicon in drug discovery. Cetek will also utilize its natural products chemistry technologies and chemical biology and scale-up capabilities to isolate and identify compounds with activity against targets screened by Lexicon. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Under the agreement, Lexicon will screen Cetek’s premier natural products library, containing more than 50,000 samples, against a specified number of targets selected by Lexicon from among those discovered and analyzed in its Genome5000(TM) program. In this program, Lexicon is using its gene knockout technology to discover the physiological functions of 5,000 potential drug targets. Compounds contained in Cetek’s library that show activity against selected targets may be licensed by Lexicon for drug discovery and development.
About Lexicon Genetics
Lexicon Genetics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease. Lexicon is systematically discovering the physiological and behavioral functions of genes to identify potential points of therapeutic intervention, or drug targets. Lexicon makes these discoveries using its proprietary gene knockout technology to model the physiological effects that could be expected from prospective drugs addressing these targets. For targets that the company believes have high pharmaceutical value, it engages in programs for the discovery and development of small molecule, antibody and protein drugs. Lexicon has advanced knockout-validated targets into drug discovery programs in six therapeutic areas: diabetes and obesity, cardiovascular disease, psychiatric and neurological disorders, cancer, immune system disorders and ophthalmic disease. Lexicon is working both independently and through collaborations and strategic alliances to accelerate the development and commercialization of its discoveries. Additional information about Lexicon is available through its corporate website, http://www.lexicon-genetics.com .
About Cetek
Cetek is a discovery and development stage pharmaceutical company built on proven, innovative technologies. Cetek is a leader in drug discovery and screening based on a proprietary capillary electrophoresis screening (CE Assay) technology and novel drugs derived from natural products. The CE Assay technology provides unique advantages in drug discovery by enabling access to many target classes, including protein-protein targets, protein-nucleic acid targets and targets of unknown function (orphans). With its CE Assay, drug sourcing and related discovery technologies, Cetek integrates chemistry, biology and engineering into an industrialized high throughput drug discovery operation. The company has successfully applied its technologies to external collaborations and internal drug discovery, with lead programs in cancer and anti-infectives. For more information, visit http://www.cetek.com .
Lexicon Genetics Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” including statements about Lexicon’s growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including those relating to Lexicon’s ability to successfully conduct preclinical development of its drug candidates and advance such candidates into clinical development, achieve its operational objectives, obtain patent protection for its discoveries and establish strategic alliances, as well as those relating to manufacturing, the regulatory process, intellectual property rights, and the therapeutic or commercial value of its drug candidates, that may cause Lexicon’s actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Information identifying such important factors is contained under “Factors Affecting Forward-Looking Statements” and “Business - Risk Factors” in Lexicon’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lexicon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Lexicon Genetics Incorporated; Cetek Corporation
CONTACT: Bobbie Faulkner, Manager, Investor Relations of Lexicon GeneticsIncorporated, +1-281-863-3503, or bfaulkner@lexgen.com ; or James N.Little, Senior Vice President, Business Development of Cetek Corporation,+1-508-229-8900, ext. 114, or j.little@cetek.com
