January 8, 2003: EUROPROTEOME AG, Hennigsdorf (Berlin, Germany) and The University Hospitals of Geneva (Switzerland) announce that they have signed a cooperative research and development agreement related to the application of BARD1, a protein interacting with the RING domain of the breast cancer gene product BRCA1, as a therapeutic target for the treatment of gynaecological and gastrointestinal cancers. Additional potential as diagnostic / prognostic marker is also foreseen.

Under the terms of the agreement the University Hospitals of Geneva will analyse the expression of BARD1 on a large collection of human tumor samples, and will also investigate the presence of BARD1 in patients sera.

EUROPROTEOME will contribute with several of its advanced proteomics, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics technologies & capabilities for marker identification, characterization and validation. Its Clinical Cancer Network will serve as an additional source for cancer samples, medical records, and specific expertise. Of particular interest will be the search for antibodies against BARD1 in patients sera, providing an avenue towards the development of a cancer immunotherapy or vaccine.


Paul von Hoegen, PhD, CSO of EUROPROTEOME commented the alliance with the University Hospitals of Geneva: “We are very pleased to work together with Dr. Irminger-Finger and her team at the University Hospitals of Geneva who is leading the field of the functional analysis of the tumor suppressor BARD1. In particular, her work has established that the protein BARD1 plays a role in sensing cellular damage and signalling towards apoptosis or cellular suicide. This collaboration will provide us with new insights into the role of BARD1 in tumorgenesis in humans, thereby offering novel approaches for therapeutic interventions in cancer combined with improved diagnostic tools.”
Irmgard Irminger-Finger, PhD, Prinicipal Investigator, group leader at the Biology of Aging Laboratory & Chief of the Therapeutic Monitoring Laboratory at the University of Geneva and the Geneva University Hospitals stated: “We are very pleased to be involved in a collaborative effort with a proteomics and oncology research-based company like EUROPROTEOME. We look forward to collaborating with EUROPROTEOME in the development of BARD1 for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.


About EUROPROTEOME

EUROPROTEOME - the Human Cancer Company - is a product-focused biopharmaceutical company with an associated network of oncology experts. The company is dedicated to leveraging its unique human molecular and comprehensive clinical data for novel inroads for the treatment of epithelial cancer patients.
EUROPROTEOME’s mission is to provide the oncology market with novel therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic products, which are based on its proprietary cancer-associated (e.g. validated) and drugable disease targets. EUROPROTEOME’s vision is to become a preferred product development partner for leading pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies.
In its research, EUROPROTEOME applies proteome technology to human epithelial cancers in order to identify specific gene expression patterns (targets / markers). The company operates a state-of-the-art high throughput proteomics and gene expression laboratory in the Biotech Park at Hennigsdorf/Germany (near Berlin). Since 1997, EUROPROTEOME has set up one of the world’s largest human tumor sample banks and cancer networks consisting of clinical and scientific researchers from several European and American research institutes and clinics. Its patented sample preparation method provides a unique source for highly purified human tissue samples. In combination with a well-standardized set of patient data the company has a privileged starting position for a leading position in the oncology market.
EUROPROTEOME is among the few biotechnology firms able to bridge clinical, pathology-related, genomic, and proteomic information in the field of epithelial cancers. Using advanced bioinformatics, EUROPROTEOME efficiently handles and integrates the vast amount of data produced.


EUROPROTEOME AG
Dr. Paul von Hoegen
Chief Scientific Officer
Neuendorfstrasse 24b
D-16761 Hennigsdorf
Deutschland
Telefon +49-3302-202 3250
Fax +49-3302-202 3259
E-Mail: pvonhoegen@europroteome.com


  www.europroteome.com