Bionomics, JJR arrangement has happy ending
Monday, 10 February, 2003
A collaboration between Adelaide company Bionomics (ASX: BNO) and Johnson and Johnson Research (JJR) has been concluded without an ongoing commercial arrangement.
"It was a 12-month collaboration and it had come to the end of its term," said Bionomics CEO Deborah Rathjen.
"We are pleased with the scientific results of the collaboration with JJR, in that the research added substantial value to three of our proprietary angiogenesis targets. It strongly validated our science."
The collaboration focused on three targets out of close to 160 genes identified as being involved in angiogenesis by Bionomics' angiogenesis screens.
According to Rathjen, compounds synthesised by JJR were tested against the targets for their ability to affect angiogenesis, validating their approach. The data is expected to be published in a peer review journal in the coming months, she said.
Rights to the results of the collaboration have reverted to Bionomics and the company plans to pursue commercialisation of the three targets, said Rathjen.
New board appointment
Bionomics also announced a new addition to its scientific advisory board, with the appointment of US scientist Errol De Souza.
De Souza, who is CEO of Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation, brings experience in drug discovery and development to Bionomics, and has a background spanning big pharma as well as biotechnology.
According to Rathjen, De Souza will assist the company in directing its flagship CNS program, which started with epilepsy and has been leveraged into the broader CNS area, including anxiety and depression, as well as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
"We were looking to boost our CNS drug discovery capabilities in the scientific advisory board. Errol is a real scoop for us," said Rathjen.
Bionomics has a number of international advisers on both its board of directors and scientific advisory board, and Rathjen said it was a deliberate strategy to seek out experienced candidates.
"We work hard to make sure we receive the best advice," she said.
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