Quest Diagnostics, SBI Form Structural Pharmacogenomics Alliance
Structural pharmacogenomics is the analysis of structural variations of drug targets resulting from genetic variations within a population. The structural variant data can be used for the development of new drugs as well as for preclinical selection of drug candidates for advancement into clinical trials.
Under the collaboration, SBI will extend existing and generate new proprietary target-specific Structural Variant database (SVdBase) modules for a number of therapeutic targets based on Quest Diagnostics' clinical sequence databases. Such modules will permit accurate modeling of structurally variant proteins to facilitate design and identification of best-in-class drug compounds. These databases will be jointly offered under the QSVdBase name by Quest Diagnostics and SBI for licensing to the pharmaceutical industry within the year.
Quest Diagnostics is a provider of diagnostic testing, information, and services to physicians, hospitals, managed care organizations, employers, and government agencies.
Structural Bioinformatics Inc. accelerates lead discovery by closing the gap from gene sequence to lead discovery and is a leader in computer-based protein structure generation and analysis.
For more information: Bernard L. Kasten, Chief Laboratory Officer, Quest Diagnostics, One Malcolm Ave., Teterboro, NJ 07608. Tel: 201-393-5000. Fax: 201-462-4715.