For More Information:
Suzanne Thompson
Public Affairs Director
American Cyanamid
973/683-3254
For Immediate Release January 9, 1998
Patented Enabling Technology Quickly Screens Thousands Of Molecules
PARSIPPANY, NJ - American Cyanamid has received a patent on a new proprietary enabling technology for high-throughput screening applicable to the discovery of a wide area of medical and agricultural products.
The technology represents a breakthrough in the mechanism-based testing of lead molecules, says Dr. Don Kirsch, director of the Cyanamid Molecular Genetics Screen Design Group. Cyanamid has already used the technique to identify and file for patents on several molecules that show promise as the active ingredients in products ranging from pharmaceuticals and animal health care to crop protection.
"The claims granted under this patent give Cyanamid and its parent company American Home Products Corporation a strong proprietary position in the development of high capacity screens for pharmaceutical and agricultural products," says Dr. Mark Atwood, president of the agricultural research division of American Cyanamid.
Expressing receptors in yeast "Our invention is a means to develop assays that are inexpensive, easy to do and fast," Kirsch says. "Hundreds of thousands of molecules can be tested in a short period of time for their possible effects on living things." By using this method, researchers can identify compounds that could prove effective in meeting human needs after further testing.
The process involves expressing the genetic code for "receptor" molecules in yeast cells. Receptors are proteins which act as "lock" mechanisms for many physiologic responses. The researcher's task is to identify substances which "unlock" the receptor and trigger the anticipated response, Kirsch explains.
Of particular interest to many scientists these days are a class of proteins called "G protein-coupled receptors" (GPCRs). "There are thousands of GPCRs in the human body, but we only know the function of about 100," Kirsch says. "The significant fact is more than 50 percent of prescription medicines act on GPCRs. Examples include beta blockers for high blood pressure, beta agonists used to treat asthma and antihistamines for cold and allergy treatment."
Yeast expressing receptors from humans or other species either grow or don't grow in the presence of particular ligands (chemical compounds that bind to receptors of interest). "In our assays, if the ligand causes the yeast to grow, then it becomes a candidate for further research and development," Kirsch says.
Cyanamid has received numerous inquiries from researchers interested in licensing the new technology, Atwood says.
American Cyanamid Company, a leading global crop protection company, is a subsidiary of American Home Products (AHP), which is one of the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical and health care products companies. AHP is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. It also is a global leader in vaccines, biotechnology, agricultural products and animal health care.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including those detailed from time to time in
AHP's periodic reports, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ from the forward-looking statements.
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1/9/98
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