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10 March 1999
Auckland's Genesis Research and Development today announced that it has entered into a long-term research collaboration with Stanford Rook Holdings, a London-based biopharmaceutical company. The collaboration centres on using Mycobacterium vaccae technology to develop an asthma vaccine. Both Genesis and Stanford Rook have been undertaking research into asthma for some time, and each recognises the benefits of pooling their complementary skills and technologies. Earlier this year Genesis announced the start of clinical trials for its asthma vaccine at the Wellington Medical School. "This collaboration should significantly reduce the development time for our joint asthma programme, and extends our ability to use the technology in other diseases in the future. I am really enthusiastic about the added benefits that can be gained from this combined scientific research," said Jim Watson PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Genesis. While the incidence of serious infections has declined in many developed countries, asthma has become increasingly common. The allergic disorder can emerge when a change occurs in the balance between white blood calls, known as Th cells. Since 1994 Genesis has been actively engaged in immune disease research, searching the genome of the Mycobacterium vaccae microbe for gene products that have the potential to change this balance of power among Th cells. Genesis has also received considerable interest in its clinical results using Mycobacterium vaccae technology for a psoriasis vaccine, undertaken with a United States biotechnology partner Corixa Corporation. Stanford Rook is extensively involved in research programmes using Mycobacterium vaccae technology for the treatment in asthma, tuberculosis and cancer. About Genesis Genesis is an unlisted public biotechnology company based in Auckland, New Zealand. Genesis was formed with the express intent of using genomic technology to develop health products, and to apply the same technology to economic opportunities in plant based primary industries. Genesis works with corporate partners wanting to use gene technology to make significant changes to their industry. Genesis' health strategy focuses on immune diseases. Its plant strategy started with a forestry programme four years ago; this is now the most extensive forestry genomics and molecular biology programme in the world. About Stanford Rook Holdings plc Stanford Rook Holdings plc (SFK.L), the AIM listed biopharmaceutical company based in London, is committed to advancing the scientific understanding of the role of the immune system in human disease and using this knowledge to develop novel technologies which are capable of delivering improved healthcare. The company's lead product, SRL172, is in phase III clinical trials in cancer and phase II in allergy and is also undergoing development as a vaccine adjuvant. SRL172 increases the immune mechanisms needed to combat cancer, while reducing those that mediate allergies. The company's website can be found at http:/www.srpharma.com More information from: Dr J.D. Watson, Chief Executive, Genesis Research & Development Corporation (09) 373 5600, j.watson@genesis.co.nz Allan Botica, Botica Conroy and Associates, (09) 303 3862, allanb@bca.co.nz |