LEIDEN, Netherlands, Aug. 30, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Galapagos Genomics NV, the Belgian functional genomics company and the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) today announced a collaboration to identify and validate novel drug targets against Alzheimer's Disease.
The collaboration combines Galapagos' PhenoSelect gene function discovery platform with VIB's extensive expertise in Alzheimer's Disease. Under the terms of the collaboration, Galapagos will screen its human gene library using VIB's proprietary cell-based presesilin-gamma-secretase assays designed to identify genes involved in Alzheimer's Disease. Gamma-secretase is known to generate a cleavage product, which has been found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
Genes identified by Galapagos that modulate the gamma-secretase activity will be further validated as potential drugs or drug targets in a joined effort by Galapagos and the group of Dr. Bart De Strooper, a renowned Alzheimer's Disease expert from VIB's department within KULeuven.
"This collaboration is an important step forward for us as a target discovery focused company. Access to VIB's expertise in the Alzheimer field will enable us to capitalize on the promising targets emerging from our discovery research." said Onno van de Stolpe, Galapagos' CEO. "The symbiosis resulting from collaborating with Bart De Strooper's group has great potential for discovery of new Alzheimer's Disease targets for further pharmaceutical development."
"This technology provides us with an unique opportunity to identify functionally components of the presenilin-gamma-secretase complex. This enigmatic protein complex plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease." said Bart De Strooper.
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