Dresden, Germany, June 15, 2009 -- Cenix BioScience GmbH, a leading RNA interference (RNAi)-focused contract research organization, today announced that they have signed a new multi-project research agreement with AstraZeneca, thereby expanding their relationship beyond its initial oncology focus, to now include respiratory and inflammation-related indications.
The new agreement calls for Cenix to complete at least three major projects applying the same leading platform for RNAi-based research that has now been utilized by major industry clients and partners in the EU and North America.
The work will integrate multi-pass genome-scale screens for the discovery of novel therapeutic target candidates with detailed validation analyses, all using a number of primary human cell types. Cenix will adapt assays initially developed by AstraZeneca scientists, combining several complementary technology platforms including automated microscopy with Cellenger-based image analysis, to optimize their implementation as high throughput RNAi studies in 384-well and/or 1,536-well formats.
“We particularly welcome the approach chosen by AstraZeneca here, of tightly integrating the discovery screens with subsequent validation studies, a strategy that we have been strongly advocating for some years,” said Dr. Christophe Echeverri, CEO/CSO of Cenix. “We also greatly appreciate and value the continuing trust that is manifested by this expanded relationship, whose full potential we look forward to realizing together in the months and years to come.”
Financial terms were not disclosed.
About Cenix BioScience
Now in its 10th year, Cenix BioScience is a contract research organization specialized in combining advanced applications of RNAi with high content phenotypic analyses to enhance and accelerate the discovery and pre-clinical development of novel therapeutics. Cenix has built up a solid track record, successfully advancing therapeutic programs for numerous major industry and academic partners by addressing the specific needs of each through fully-customized, cutting-edge research offerings covering a wide range of disease fields. The well-established core capabilities in high throughput RNAi and multi-parametric microscopy assays have yielded optimized protocols in a broad and ever-growing collection of cultured cell models, and are now complemented by microRNA-focused experimentation and in vivo applications of synthetic siRNAs. As such, Cenix is a mature and fully-proven industrial research provider, applying the highest of scientific best practices and offering a breadth and depth of expertise second to none world wide. For more information, please contact Cenix or visit the company’s web site www.cenix-bioscience.com.
About AstraZeneca
with healthcare sales of US$ 31.6 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines. For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: www.astrazeneca.com
Contact:
Christoph Sachse, Ph. D.
Tel: +49 (0) 351 4173-0
Email: info@cenix-bioscience.com
Web: www.cenix-bioscience.com