BioCentury
ARTICLE | Tools & Techniques

Cellzome gets to molecules

March 21, 2005 8:00 AM UTC

Six months ago, Cellzome AG put itself on the map when it signed Novartis AG as a partner based on the mapping and publication of the TNF alpha pathway. The deal included an equity infusion from the pharma company. Now Cellzome has elucidated and partnered another sought-after pathway: the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), signing a deal last week with the Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development unit in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The partnership is the first that includes compounds discovered by Cellzome.

The deal includes all three Cellzome technologies: pathway mapping technology that identifies networks of proteins, affinity-based chemical proteomics, and CATS bioinformatics technology to interpret the data (see BioCentury, Sept. 27, 2004). In addition, the pharma company has an option to license Cellzome's gamma secretase modulator research program, which includes oral small molecules to treat AD(see B2). ...