Ciphergen Designated as Official Technology Supplier for Major Clinical Proteomics Project in Japan
April 19 2004 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Ciphergen Designated as Official Technology Supplier for Major
Clinical Proteomics Project in Japan ProteinChip(R) Technology
Incorporated in Drug Discovery Proteome Factory FREMONT, Calif.,
April 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.
announced today that its Japanese wholly-owned subsidiary,
Ciphergen Biosystems K.K., has been designated as one of the
official technology suppliers of a major Japanese national project
known as the "Drug Discovery Proteome Factory." Ciphergen has
initially sold to the Proteome Factory three ProteinChip
AutoBiomarker Systems and two ProteinChip Tandem MS Interfaces. "We
are extremely pleased that the SELDI ProteinChip technology has
been chosen to play a role in this important research program,"
stated Hiroyuki Saeki, President of Ciphergen Biosystems K.K. "In
addition to providing our technology, we will provide on-going
technical support to the project through our field scientists and
scientists at our Yokohama Biomarker Discovery Center(R)
laboratory." The Japan Health Science Foundation (JHSF), a
subordinate organization of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and
Welfare (MHLW), has formed a consortium called the "Drug Discovery
Proteome Factory" to carry out a national project named "Analysis
of Disease-related Proteins." About 20 leading Japanese
pharmaceutical companies are involved in this 5-year project as
members of this consortium with the promised support of 4.5 billion
Japanese Yen. The consortium aims to obtain information on
disease-related proteins by large- scale and intensive analyses as
well as to develop novel analytical methods with use both of
frontline instruments and of human samples from people with
specific diseases and age-matched normal individuals. The targeted
areas of focus are 5 major diseases prevalent in Japan, namely
cancer, diabetes, hypertension, asthma and dementia. A large number
of normal and diseased samples will be collected throughout Japan
and protein profiles will be analyzed rapidly to discover novel
drug targets and disease markers. The information obtained will be
used to construct a resource database for drug discovery.
Integration of multiple cutting-edge technologies in proteomics and
information science is considered a key for success of this
project. The consortium selected enabling technologies in both
fields and will develop novel methodologies for the analysis.
Ciphergen's SELDI ProteinChip System was recognized as one of the
core technologies for clinical proteomics in Japan and has been
selected as one of the technologies for the high-throughput
proteome analysis for discovery and characterization of
disease-related proteins. About Ciphergen Ciphergen's Biosystems
Division develops, manufactures and markets a family of
ProteinChip(R) Systems and services for clinical, research, and
process proteomics applications, as well as a broad range of
bioseparations media for protein purification and large scale
production. ProteinChip Systems enable protein discovery,
characterization, identification and assay development to provide
researchers with predictive, multi-marker assay capabilities and a
better understanding of biological function at the protein level.
Ciphergen's Diagnostics Division is dedicated to the discovery of
protein biomarkers and panels of biomarkers and their development
into protein molecular diagnostic tests that improve patient care;
and to providing collaborative R&D services through its
Biomarker Discovery Center(R) laboratories for biomarker discovery
for new diagnostic tests as well as pharmacoproteomic services for
improved drug toxicology, efficacy and theranostic assays.
Additional information about Ciphergen can be found at
http://www.ciphergen.com/. About Ciphergen Biosystems K.K.
Ciphergen Biosystems has long considered Japan to be a critical
country for leading medical research, having entered the Japanese
market in 1999 through the formation of Ciphergen Biosystems K.K.,
a joint venture established with SC BioSciences (a division of
Sumitomo Corporation). In August 2002, Ciphergen Biosystems
increased its ownership interest in Ciphergen Biosystems K.K. from
30% to 70% and shortly thereafter established a Biomarker Discovery
Center(R) laboratory in Yokohama. In March 2004, Ciphergen
Biosystems further increased its ownership of Ciphergen Biosystems
K.K. to 100%. Safe Harbor Statement Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements: For purposes of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"), Ciphergen disclaims any intent or
obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and claims
the protection of the Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements
contained in the Act. Examples of such forward-looking statements
include statements regarding the expected activities of the Drug
Discovery Proteome Factory and Ciphergen's role in research
conducted by this Consortium, the use of ProteinChip technology to
discover useful protein biomarkers that can act as novel drug
targets or disease markers, develop and commercialize clinical
diagnostics that improve patient care, the ability to provide
services that lead to improved toxicology assays and diagnostic
assays, and statements regarding our Diagnostics Division. Actual
results may differ materially from those projected in such
forward-looking statements due to various factors, including the
ProteinChip technology's ability to validate and/or develop protein
biomarkers as novel drug targets, diagnostic or toxicology assays,
and the Company's ability to successfully commercialize such tests.
Investors should consult Ciphergen's filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K dated March 15,
2004, for further information regarding these and other risks of
the Company's business. NOTE: Ciphergen, ProteinChip, Biomarker
Discovery Center and BioSepra are registered trademarks of
Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. DATASOURCE: Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc.
CONTACT: Sue Carruthers, Investor Relations of Ciphergen
Biosystems, Inc., +1-510-505-2233 Web site:
http://www.ciphergen.com/
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