SignalGene: One piece at a time
Since leaving its roots in positional cloning, SignalGene Inc. has turned to association of single nucleotide polymorphisms within the population of Quebec to identify disease-related gene targets, in particular nuclear receptor genes. However, unlike many other SNP association companies, SignalGene (TSE:SGI) already has started to move downstream, adding technologies through modestly priced acquisitions to turn targets into clinical candidate compounds.
Indeed, the company's positional cloning efforts in Alzheimer's disease with partner Genset S.A. (GENXY; NM:Genset, Paris, France) and in psoriasis have yet to yield an identified gene. But the acquisitions and SGI's SNP association programs have enabled the company to reach preclinical development with an obesity compound and SGI is about to begin compound screening against its androgen receptor targets to treat osteoporosis and breast cancer...