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Archives News room 2005 |
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December 2005:
Invitrogen enters into worldwide co-marketing agreement with genOway focused on RNAi services
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November 2005:
genOway announces General Service Agreements with the "Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine" and the "Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe University Frankfurt"
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October 2005:
genOway takes over transgenic commercial activities of IngenKO Pty Ltd (Australia)
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September 2005:
6th Trans-Tech-Meeting genOway prize was awarded to Andras NAGY
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June 2005:
genOway Germany joins European program to establish new gene therapy vectors
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May 2005:
genOway Germany announce a 45 % Reduction in Development Time of Genetically Modified Research Models
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March 2005:
genOway acquires worldwide ddRNAi license from Benitec
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February 2005:
University College London and genOway announce a general agreement
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January 2005:
genOway acquires the German transgenic company Murinus
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 Invitrogen enters into worldwide co-marketing agreement with genOway focused on RNAi services |
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Deal positions companies to address in vivo target validation market
Carlsbad, California USA and Lyon, France, December 15th, 2005
Invitrogen Corporation (Nasdaq: IVGN), a provider of essential life science technologies for disease research and drug discovery and genOway, a creator of genetically modified biological models today announced the signing of a co-marketing agreement around RNAi related services. Under the terms of the agreement, Invitrogen and genOway will combine Invitrogen's expertise in RNAi research technologies with genOway's portfolio of transgenesis technologies and RNAi in vivo experience to create a services platform offering RNAi vector design through the creation of RNAi transgenic rodent models.
Both companies will share revenues but specific financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.
An important part of the drug discovery research and development process involves in vivo studies, often performed in animal models. As RNAi technology has advanced, the need to validate RNAi knockdown in model systems has been regarded as the next step in the eventual development of therapeutics based on the technique.
"Combining the services of these two leading RNAi companies will provide researchers with a complete solution to ensure successful RNAi research for drug discovery and therapeutic applications," said Jon Hindar, Senior Vice President of Life Sciences at Invitrogen. "This broad service offering has the potential to significantly accelerate target validation studies in disease research."
"RNAi continues to gain acceptance in drug discovery and development applications," explained Kader Thiam, Head of Transgenic technologies of genOway. "Our leading in vivo RNAi technologies are strengthened by the solid in vitro applications Invitrogen has developed."
RNAi has rapidly become one of the most widely used techniques in drug discovery research. Using RNAi technology, scientists can turn genes "off," enabling them to observe a cell's behavior in the absence of the targeted gene's protein product. This may lead to better understanding of disease mechanisms and eventually, better therapies.
Invitrogen has built a strong RNAi technology portfolio in recent years, first offering a family of products under the BLOCK-iT name in September 2003, including short interfering RNA (siRNA), kits for creating short hairpin RNA (shRNA), and technologies to deliver RNAi reagents to cells and tissues. In November 2003, Invitrogen announced that it had acquired privately-held Sequitur, Inc. of Natick, Mass. Sequitur brought to Invitrogen Stealth technology, a proprietary synthetic RNA molecule that holds advantages over traditional siRNA in specificity, efficacy, stability and reducing "off target" effects of silencing. Invitrogen continues to develop technologies to enhance its comprehensive RNAi solution to address evolving needs of researchers in the formative era of the application. This year Invitrogen launched the BLOCK-iT pol II miR RNAi expression vector kits and services which combine the advantages of traditional RNAi vectors with capabilities for tissue specific expression and multiple target knockdown from the same transcript.
In three years, genOway has become the leading company for in vivo RNAi rodent models. Beginning in 2003 genOway launched its Safe RNAi Transgenesis technology based on random integration of shRNA into ES cells. In 2004 the company launched its RNAi Quick Knock-in technology that allows targeted insertion of the shRNA into a specific gene locus, HPRT. Most recently genOway has started offering a Rat Knock-down R&D program.
About Invitrogen
www.invitrogen.com
Invitrogen Corporation (Nasdaq:IVGN) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen's own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery including functional genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and cell biology - placing Invitrogen's products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, California and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company globally employs approximately 4,800 scientists and other professionals and had revenues of more than $1 billion in 2004.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements contained in this press release are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is Invitrogen's intent that such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: 1) Invitrogen and genOway will combine in vitro and in vivo applications to form a complete RNAi services platform; 2) Invitrogen and genOway will share revenues from the co-marketing agreement; and 3) The collaboration will accelerate target validation studies in disease research. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks: a) Details of the agreement are subject to change according to the evolution of the program; b) Financial terms of the agreement may vary; and c) The collaboration and co-marketing agreement may have no significant impact on target validation or disease research, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Invitrogen's Securities
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genOway announces General Service Agreements with the "Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine" and the "Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt" |
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Hamburg, Germany - November 2005
Through its German subsidiary, genOway, the European market leader in transgenesis, reports the signature of two General Service Agreements. The company has agreed to establish closer collaborations with the Max-Planck-Institute (MPI) for Experimental Medicine, Goettingen and the Medical Faculty of the Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe University, Frankfurt. The agreements cover the development and generation of genetically modified mouse models using genOway's proprietary technology platform.
The non-exclusive agreements will provide researchers from the two institutions with a personalised service aimed at developing animal models to meet their specific needs and goals. The agreements build on the successful business relationship, which genOway and the researchers in Goettingen and Frankfurt have enjoyed over the past two years. Timelines, financial conditions and therapeutic areas of interest have not been disclosed.
The MPI for Experimental Medicine's research program focuses on the investigation of the nervous system and its diseases at the molecular and cellular level. A particular emphasis lies in the examination of channel protein function, mechanisms of brain development, the molecular origin of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and the molecular basis of learning and memory. All these areas of research benefit considerably from the availability of genetically modified mice to facilitate in vivo investigations.
The Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe University in Frankfurt is internationally well know for excellent research and has just been elected one of the "Best Universities" in the German FOCUS-Ranking as well as one of the "Top 100 biomedicine universities" in the international "Times Higher Education Supplement". The research in Frankfurt's Medical School covers a broad range of clinical and preclinical studies with particular focus on Cardiovascular Medicine, Neuroscience and Oncology / Immunology.
" These global agreements are a confirmation of mutual trust. genOway has always been proud to collaborate with the Max-Planck-Institute and Frankfurt University and we believe that this agreement will make our collaboration even more effective." said Dr. Fraichard, CEO of genOway.
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genOway takes over transgenic commercial activities of IngenKO Pty Ltd (Australia) |
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Lyon, France - 13th October 2005
genOway, the European market leader in transgenesis, takes over commercial activities for IngenKO Pty Ltd following the Australian company's closure. This confirms genOway's leading position in the market and contributes to the worldwide expansion of the company's activities.
IngenKO was set up in June 2001 as a spin-off company of Monash University, a renowned academic institute and a leader in stem cell research. The company gained 4 years experience as a commercial supplier of gene-targeted mice on a service-fee basis to customers in the academic, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical research communities in Australia, the USA, Europe, Japan and Asia. IngenKO was one of the major players in this very competitive market.
Prior to IngenKO's closing, genOway was contacted to facilitate the transfer of a number of projects, "With a high production capacity, and high quality services, genOway was the obvious choice to complete the IngenKO's projects. IngenKO's customers welcomed this transfer of supplier, as they were reassured by genOway's expertise and market position." said Dr Rocco Iannello, Business Development Manager, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University.
Based in Lyons, France and Hamburg,, Germany, genOway is the European market leader in transgenesis. genOway's mission is to provide pharmaceutical and academic research institutes with tailor-made genetically modified animal models for gene validation, drug screening, pharmacological and toxicological studies. With highly skilled staff, innovative technologies and genuine customer oriented service offers, the relevancy of the business model developed by genOway is confirmed by its worldwide expansion and its expert position on the market.
"The transfer of IngenKO's commercial activities to genOway is a further confirmation of the trust that various players in this market place in genOway's leadership. We are very proud to have been chosen by IngenKO. Every single customer of IngenKO entrusted us to complete their projects," said Alexandre Fraichard, genOway's CEO.
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6th Trans-Tech-Meeting genOway prize was awarded to Andras NAGY |
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Barcelona, Spain, September 2005
For the 4th year, genOway sponsored The genOway Prize for Transgenic Technologies. The prize is awarded to a scientist who has made an outstanding achievement in transgenic research.
At the 6th Trans-Tech-Meeting the prize was awarded to Dr.Andras Nagy. for his whole scientific career. Dr. Andras Nagy has been acknowledged for his work in the stem cell field and his impressive contribution to the development of tools routinely used in the transgenesis.
Dr. Andras Nagy is Senior Investigator Development and Fetal Health and Professor for the department of Medical Genetics and Microbiology Mount Sinai Hospital, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Instiute, Toronto, Canada. Dr. Nagy currently holds the Canadian Institute of Health Records Senior Scientist Award 2002-2007. In partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb he also was awarded the Medical Research Council of Canada/Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada Scientist award 1996-2001.
Dr. Andras Nagy is interested in using mouse genetics to study mammalian development and to apply this knowledge to human disease. Dr. Nagy is also developing new, powerful tools for genetic approaches and phenotype analysis for these ongoing studies.
The Trans-Tech-Meetings were established in 1998 as a, first Scandinavian, then European, pioneer initiative of Johannes Wilbertz, the Director of the Karolinska Center for Transgene Technologies (Karolinska Institut, Stockholm), and since then have become the most relevant forum, at the international level, to discuss new techniques, developments and projects within the field of mammalian transgenesis while bringing the attention and interest of both technicians and scientists working in this field.
The Trans-Tech-Meetings attract and gather both leading scientists and technicians interested and working in the generation and analysis of Transgenic and Knockout Mice. In particular, most of the European Transgenic Services/Units as well as a growing number of Transgenic Units from USA, Australia and other countries participate in TT meetings.
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genOway Germany joins European program to establish new gene therapy vectors |
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Hamburg, Germany, June 2005
genOway Germany GmbH, the German subsidiary of the European market leader in transgenesis, has further strengthened its position as one of the leading providers of genetically modified rodents. Along with scientists from 5 countries, the company is involved as an SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) in the EU 6th Framework Program "Episomal Vectors for Human Gene Therapy". The research is focused on the study of innovative DNA transport elements (episomes) for the delivery of therapeutic genes to treat human genetic diseases.
During the 1990s great interest for gene therapy emerged for the first time. Successful studies in animal models of human disease, led to the first attempts to treat patients with hereditary defects by implanting a functional version of a damaged gene into the patient's body. After some initial encouraging results, the high hopes for widespread gene therapy were quashed when several treated patients contracted cancer and died.
Researchers in the "Epi-Vector-Project" now want to find out if episomes are suitable for a gentler form of gene therapy. Episomes are DNA elements that do not integrate themselves into the genetic material of the host. Instead, they become anchored in a reversible manner to certain support molecules within the nucleus of the cell - this support structure is used for stabilisation by the human DNA. The episomes are independent DNA ring molecules which attach themselves to this chromosomal apparatus within the host cell. Their genetic information is read with that of the host chromosomes in parallel and together they replicate and segregate with the chromosomes every time cell division occurs.
"The specialists at genOway are responsible for testing the feasibility of in vivo application of these potentially therapeutic vectors.A critical step in the developmental process is validation of vector performance in an animal model. genOway were the obvious choice for this crucial aspect of the project" says Dean Jackson, coordinator of the programme. "Within the project genOway will use their world-leading skills in developing transgenic animals to establish if the gene therapy system is transmitted efficient from mother to daughter cells during cell division. While this is know to happen in cultured cells, it is absolutely essential to know how the vector will behave in the different tissues of a living animal. The duration of the program is planned for 3 years."
About the Epi-Vector-Program
The Scientists in this EU research program come from eight research facilities in Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Spain and Israel. The German project partners come from the University of Witten as well as the GBF (Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung GmbH) in Brunswick. The coordinator of the program is the molecular biologit.
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genOway Germany announce a 45 % Reduction in Development Time of Genetically Modified Research Models |
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Hamburg, Germany, May 2005
genOway Germany GmbH, the German subsidiary of the European market leader in transgenesis announce a 45 % reduction in the development time of tailor made-genetically modified research models. Customers in Germany can benefit from the strength and security of genOway as well as from the partnership with the leading provider of pre-clinical research products and services to biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, Charles River Laboratories.
The partnership between genOway (Hamburg) and Charles River Laboratories (Kisslegg) on the German market allows faster availability of genetically modified research models for pharmaceutical, biotech and academic research customers. Anticipation of further development steps, line housing, breeding & delivery are facilitated by this unique collaboration.
Furthermore, projects can now be started without any need for a "Tierversuchsgenehmigung", the license usually required for the generation of animal models within Germany. All scientific work is performed in the genOway Head Office in Lyon, France. genOway has a general animal experimentation license and does not have to apply for each new project, thus saving considerable time and allowing outsourced projects to remain truly confidential.
Through its Hamburg subsidiary, genOway brings its German customers the reliability and expertise of the European leader in animal model development. The industrialization of the technology platforms combined with the expertise of over 40 experienced biologists provides customers with highly relevant models available within shorter development times.
In order to support the company's expected rapid growth, genOway Germany will move into brand new offices situated in the center of Hamburg in June.
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genOway acquires worldwide ddRNAi license from Benitec genOway's new offers combine its proprietary in vivo RNAi technologies with customer complete freedom to operate without any follow on rights or claims |
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Lyon, France, March 24, 2005
genOway announces that it has been granted a world-wide non-exclusive commercial license from Benitec (ASX:BLT) to develop transgenic animals. This agreement will provide genOway's customers with an entire freedom to operate with genOway's cutting edge in vivo RNAi technologies from target validation to safety studies, without any follow on rights or claims on the models and results. Benitec will receive an up-front license fee and on-going royalties, however, financial details were not disclosed.
genOway is regarded throughout Europe as a premier company to provide customers with highly-advanced mouse and rat models that can be used both in basic research and in drug discovery. genOway holds intellectual property rights to multiple processes for developing animal models and offers a full range of solutions for both gene expression and gene inactivation in mouse and rat models.
This Benitec License will come in addition to genOway's proprietary in vivo technologies such as "RNAi Quick Knock-in", "Inducible in vivo RNAi" and "Conditional in vivo RNAi" . " Our innovative proprietary in vivo RNAi platform is already a business success with pharmaceutical companies. This license will strengthen our offers by guaranting a complete freedom to operate for our customer, on a world wide basis and with no follow-on right or claim on the results. This license combine with our proprietary technologies position genOway as a the best partner for the biopharmaceutical industry. " said Alexandre Fraichard, genOway's CEO.
Sara M. Cunningham, CEO of Benitec, stategenics capabilities with KO, Conditional KO, Kin, transgenic mice and rats and particularly their expertise in vivo RNAi for mouse and rat. ddRNAi is a powerful platform that significantly decreases the time required to create animal models of human disease. We are please to grant genOway the freedom to use our technology."
About Benitec
www.benitec.com
Benitec is an international biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics to treat serious diseases using its proprietary RNAi technology. Benitec (ASX: BLT) is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and has its clinical operations centered in the heart of Silicon Valley in Mountain View, California, USA. Its lead therapeutic programs are designed to create novel RNAi-based therapies for the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Benitec's RNA-based HIV therapeutic, co-developed with the Center for Biomedicine & Genetics at the City of Hope in Los Angeles, California, will enter Phase I clinical trials in 2006.
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University College London and genOway announce a general agreement |
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Lyon, France, February 2005
genOway reports a general agreement with University College London (UCL), a leading research institution. This agreement covers the development of several specific mouse models using the proprietary technology platform of genOway.
This non-exclusive agreement will provide researchers from UCL with a personalised service aimed at developing animal models to meet their specific needs and goals.
Timelines, financial conditions and therapeutic areas of interest are not disclosed.
genOway's expertise combines technologies classically used in transgenesis (knock-out, knock-in, conditional and inducible systems) with cutting-edge proprietary technologies for enhancing the efficiency and safety of animal model development.
In addition, UCL investigators will benefit from extensive consultancy services focused on developing customised and efficient model to specifications.
genOway's expertise and UCL investigators' know-how on the genes of interest will make it possible to anticipate and to reduce the technical risks of UCL's projects.
"This global agreement with UCL researchers is a confirmation of mutual trust. genOway has always been proud to collaborate with this institute and we believe that this agreement will make our collaboration even more effective.." said Dr. Fraichard, CEO of genOway.
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genOway acquires the German transgenic company Murinus |
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Lyon, France, January 2005
genOway has acquired the expertise of the German transgenic company MURINUS. This consolidation fulfils genOway's aim to further strengthen its position as European market leader.
 MURINUS, based in Hamburg, Germany, specialises in the design, production and housing of genetically modified animal models and offers transgenic services to industrial and academic partners. Since its foundation in October 2002 as a subsidiary of the University Medical Center Eppendorf, Murinus has become a leading provider of transgenic and knockout mice in Northern Europe. In comparison with last year, Murinus has been able to increase its order volume for 2004 by 275%, - a level of growth resulting from Murinus's reputation for high quality service.
" Combining our expertise, technologies and market knowledge, will help raise the quality of the research models we offer even further," said Ben DAVIES, Murinus' Scientific Director
genOway's mission is to provide pharmaceutical and academic research institutes with tailor-made genetically modified animal models for gene validation, drug screening, pharmacological and toxicological studies.
This merger provides genOway with
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 | highly skilled staff necessary to support the fast growth of the company |
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 | a complementary customer portfolio in northern Europe and ScandinaviD> |
 | innovative technologies in genetic engineering |
"Both companies have developed a genuine customer oriented service offer. The Murinus team will strengthen our development in northern Europe." said Alexandre FRAICHARDn office, based in Hamburg is expected to yield a further 25% in addition to genOway's expected growth in sales for 2005 due to the leverage effects resulting from the consolidation of customer portfolios and products. Furthermore, the merger enables a minimum 20% reduction of overhead costs that will be entirely re-invested in research programs.
"This acquisition is a further confirmation of the relevancy of the business model we developed with genOway 5 years ago" said Jean-Claude LEVEQUE, LC CAPITAL for Dassault Development, genOway lead investor of first financial round in 1999.
"We invested in genOway 6 months ago to support their promising internal R&D efforts as well as their international commercial development to assert their position of leadership in the transgenic field. Next exciting challenges will be turning the service into a product business model and commercialising on the other side of the Atlantic" said Hervé de KERGROHEN, MD, Venture Partner, CDC Entreprises Innovation, genOway lead investor of 2004 financial round.
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