Cellular Genomics Establishes Research Collaboration With Lilly

BRANFORD, Conn., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular Genomics Inc. (CGI), a chemical genetics based biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has entered into a research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, under which CGI will apply its chemical genetics Analog Sensitive Kinase Allele (ASKA) technology to the study of kinase drug targets selected by Lilly.

"We are extremely pleased that Lilly has chosen to collaborate with CGI to further enhance their kinase drug discovery programs," said Dr. Louis Matis, President and Chief Executive Officer of CGI. "This marks the fifth collaboration we have established with a major pharmaceutical or biotechnology company based on our patented chemical genetics technologies, demonstrating their value and utility."

CGI's cutting-edge chemical genetics approach is based on the discovery of Analog Sensitive Kinase Alleles (ASKAs). ASKAs are genetically modified kinases that retain all the functions of normal kinases, but can be potently inhibited with exquisite selectivity and specificity by a specially designed proprietary small molecule analog inhibitor. This enables drug discovery scientists to quickly understand the pharmacological consequences of specific kinase inhibition and, therefore, the likely therapeutic benefit of inhibiting the normal kinase target with a small molecule drug. CGI holds the exclusive worldwide license to this broadly enabling chemical genetics technology, which has powerful applications to multiple facets of the drug discovery process. These include: cell pathway based target identification; rigorous, pharmaceutically relevant in vivo target validation; proprietary high-content cell-based drug screens; and in vivo systems that provide key therapeutic index and drug safety information to guide the selection of optimal drug candidates for clinical development.

Under the terms of the agreement, CGI will use its ASKA technology to generate modified kinases for Lilly. CGI's P-inhibitor technology will be utilized to design and validate unique cell-based assays specific for the kinases of interest to Lilly. These assays have the potential to accelerate Lilly's lead identification efforts against the kinase targets.

About CGI

Cellular Genomics Inc. (CGI) is a privately held chemical genetics-based biopharmaceutical company that is pioneering a unique, highly integrated chemical genetics platform to discover and develop kinase and other signal transduction inhibitors for multiple clinical indications. CGI has established state-of-the art small molecule drug discovery capabilities, including proprietary chemical libraries generated through the company's High-throughput Accelerated Lead Optimization (HALO) platform. CGI has generated potent, selective lead candidates in three drug discovery and development programs in autoimmune and inflammatory disease, cancer, and angiogenesis that are advancing rapidly toward the clinic. CGI's proprietary chemical genetics technologies have broad applications across all phases of drug discovery, which the company is leveraging both to advance its own internal drug development programs as well as to establish partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The Company has established research collaborations with several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Please visit http://www.cellulargenomics.com for additional information.