Trading data for validation

Celera Genomics Group's deal to access functional genomics technology from Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. may seem paradoxical, as it allows ISIP and not CRA to commercialize resulting gene function information in a database. But as a piece of CRA's move downstream from DNA sequencing, the deal implies that CRA has indeed decided its future lies somewhere outside database subscriptions.

Peter Barrett, CRA's chief business officer, said ISIP's GeneTrove antisense technology will complement CRA's other target identification and validation work. He said CRA's internal proteomics technology provides target identification and some validation. The company also is building a capability for producing antibodies for use as reagents in validation. In addition, CRA's acquisition of Axys Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AXPH, South San Francisco, Calif.) will provide assays and other functional genomics capabilities. ...