Protein vs. gene targets

Though gene markers of disease have received significant attention with the sequencing of the human genome, it may prove in practice that protein markers are more useful in many situations.

Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. last week announced that it will develop diagnostic tests for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (ROCZ, Basel, Switzerland). MLNM (Cambridge, Mass) would not comment on whether the project will focus on protein or gene markers. But the fact that MLNM plans to design tests to run on serum or synovial fluid samples, which are very acellular, suggests that the partners are looking to develop protein targets...