LONDON, May 2, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Trigen Ltd. announced today that it has transferred the Drug Discovery Group ("DDG") of the Thrombosis Research Institute ("TRI") to its own operations.
The DDG, which formed part of Trigen's virtual organization, will now be fully integrated into Trigen's discovery capability. The DDG uses a multi-disciplinary approach to structure-based design including medicinal chemistry, molecular modeling, crystallography and protein engineering, within the cardiovascular field. In addition, the DDG has a proven capability in pre-clinical development. The transfer includes a key group of scientists who were instrumental in the development of Trigen's lead program, TRI 50b, an anti-coagulant, direct thrombin inhibitor, which is currently in clinical trials.
"We are very pleased to expand our discovery and development capabilities by the integration of the DDG. It marks another step in Trigen's transition from a virtual operation to an integrated company," said Sanjay Kakkar, Chief Executive Officer of Trigen. "Since Trigen's goal is to establish a franchise in occlusive and inflammatory cardiovascular disease, we will continue to expand the company's technology base through internal growth as well as in-licensing, partnering and acquiring complementary businesses, products and technologies."
Note to Editors:
Trigen is a private U.K. biotechnology company developing novel drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases with a focus on thrombosis. Trigen has two products in clinical trials from its lead drug development program; an intravenous and an oral formulation of an anti-coagulant, direct thrombin inhibitor. In addition, Trigen has other programs focused on atheroma, thrombosis and inflammation in pre-clinical development. Trigen was founded in 1992 to invest in and develop the drug discovery technologies of the world-renowned Thrombosis Research Institute ("TRI") in London.
The Thrombosis Research Institute ("TRI") is a registered charity overseen by the Thrombosis Research Trust, which was established in 1977 to advance research, patient care and education in the combined pathologies of thrombosis and atheroma. The TRI is an internationally acclaimed, multi-disciplinary organization, whose research activities are focused on the molecular pathogenesis of disorders of coagulation to develop new strategies to prevent and treat thrombosis and atheroma. For further information, please visit the TRI's website on www.TRI-London.ac.uk.