Japanese Firm to Develop Drugs Using HGS Data

URL: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/specials/science/cloning/A62336-2001Mar26.html

Date accessed: 29 March 2001

By Terence Chea
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 27, 2001; Page E05

Human Genome Sciences Inc. is set to announce today that Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd. will launch new drug-discovery programs based on about 100 genes it has selected from the Rockville firm's gene database.

Under the terms of an agreement signed six years ago, Human Genome Sciences could receive substantial milestone and royalty payments on products developed and brought to market by Takeda. The companies have not disclosed the financial details of their development agreement.

Human Genome Sciences is developing several drugs based on its gene-discovery research, but it also generates revenue by selling marketing rights for potential products based on its discoveries.

In 1995, Takeda signed an agreement with Human Genome Sciences and SmithKline Beecham Corp., now a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline PLC, to use the two companies' gene database and gene sequencing technology and to gain rights to market and develop products based on the genetic data.

"We are now beginning to harvest the fruits of that agreement," said William A. Haseltine, Human Genome Sciences' chairman and chief executive. "This is further validation that the genomics we pioneered back in 1992 and 1993 is beginning to reach fruition."

Takeda, Japan's largest drug company, will use the genetic data to develop drugs to treat several medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, central-nervous-system disorders, and bone and joint diseases. Osamu Nishimura, general manager of Takeda's pharmaceutical research division, said in a statement that Human Genome Sciences' gene database has "provided our organization with a tremendous opportunity to expand the number of drug discovery targets available to us."

Takeda's decision follows an announcement last month that GlaxoSmithKline started human testing of two potential heart-disease drugs based on discoveries made by Human Genome Sciences. The Rockville firm will share in future product revenue if the drugs are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

More stories on BIOTECH/MEDICAL online at Washtech.com.

Categories: 16. Economics and Biotechnology, 32. Genome Project and Genomics