GENEART awarded contract by SAIC-Frederick, Inc. for the US National
Cancer Institute part of the National Institutes of Health
- SAIC-Frederick, Inc. awards contract for the production of 2,000 to
3,000 genes with a stop codon and the same genes without the stop
codon
- The expected order volume amounts up to USD 6.5 million
- GENEART will perform the synthesis within the scope of the NIH's
"Mammalian Gene Collection Program"
Regensburg, 16. January, 2007 - GENEART today announced that the
company is a recipient of a contract for the synthesis of 2,000 to
3,000 genes and 2,000 to 3,000 gene variants thereof. The expected
order volume amounts up to USD 6.5 million. The genes to be
synthesized by GENEART will be added by the National Cancer Institute
to the NIH'S comprehensive collection of genes of humans and mice to
provide an important resource for basic and biomedical research.
Within the scope of the "Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC) Program",
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been working on creating
a comprehensive, publicly accessible cloned gene library of humans
and mice since 1999. The goal of Mammalian Gene Collection is to
include at least one defined full-length clone of each known gene
sequence of these two species. The Mammalian Gene Collection is the
largest publicly available cDNA library, and of crucial importance
for molecular research in mammals. All genetic sequences are freely
accessible via a database; the associated genes can be ordered by any
researcher.
The GENEART is to synthesize up to 3,000 genes and 3,000 gene
variants for the Mammalian Gene Collection over the next eight to ten
months. The subset to be synthesized mainly comprises genes which
could not be obtained at all or only at significant higher cost by
using conventional methods (from cDNA libraries or RT-PCR).
"We are very happy that we were chosen for this project. The record
size and the scientific importance of this order confirm that our
company is the worldwide leader in the field of gene synthesis",
stated Mr. Christian Ehl, CEO / CFO of GENEART AG.
"By consistently increasing capacities while simultaneously
miniaturizing and automating the production process, we are now able
to manufacture genes in an industrial process, "just like on an
assembly line". Gene synthesis is therefore becoming a standard tool
worldwide in the field of modern biotechnological and pharmaceutical
research. The de novo synthesis of genes, however, not only provides
cost advantages for our clients, but also offers researchers
completely new possibilities in terms of designing new medications,
vaccines, and industrial enzymes. We are therefore certain that this
is just the beginning of a revolutionary development in the field of
DNA engineering and synthetic biology", Prof. Dr. Wagner, CEO / CSO
of GENEART AG points out.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Bernd Merkl Frank Ostermair
Josef-Engert-Str. 11 Haubrok Investor Relations GmbH
D-93053 Regensburg, Germany Maximilianstraße 45
Tel.: +49-(0)941-942 76 - 38 80538 München
Fax: +49-(0)941-942 76 - 11 Tel: 089-21027-204
ir@geneart.com Fax: 089-21027-298
www.geneart.com f.ostermair@haubrok.de
Background information:
About GENEART AG
GENEART was founded in 1999. Today, the company ranks as the leading
global specialist in gene synthesis for research institutions, the
pharmaceutical industry and for enterprises in biotechnology and
chemistry. GENEART offers integrated product systems based on gene
synthesis for the development of innovative drugs, in particular for
DNA- and protein-based therapeutics and vaccines, and for the
identification of improved industrial enzymes. Service offerings
range from synthesizing artificial genes according to DIN EN ISO
9001:2000, via constructing gene libraries in the field of
combinatorial biology, to the production and development of DNA-based
active components. The team of more than 80 employees in Regensburg
and with the subsidiary GENEART Inc. in Toronto/Canada reached break
even in 2005. Since May 2006 GENEART AG is listed at the German Stock
Exchange.
About the NIH:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) - The Nation's Medical
Research Agency - is comprised of 27 Institutes and Centers and is a
component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is
the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic,
clinical, and translational medical research, and investigates the
causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For
more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
The project has been funded in whole with Federal funds from the
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, under
Contract No. N01-CO-12400. The content of this publication does not
necessarily reflect the views of policies of the Department of Health
and Human Service, nor does mention of trade names, commercial
products or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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