Institute for the Study of Aging Funds Tranzyme Through its Biotechnology Development Program 3/25/2003
From: Howard Fillit of the Institute for the Study of Aging, 212-572-4086, e-mail: hfillit@aging-institute.org Vipin K. Garg of Tranzyme, 919-597-6614 e-mail: vgarg@tranzyme.com web: http://www.aging-institute.org NEW YORK, March 25 -- The Institute for the Study of Aging (ISOA) announced today that it is providing grant funding of approximately $500,000 to Tranzyme, Inc. Tranzyme is a biotechnology company focused on discovery of innovative therapies for neurosensory diseases. The company has developed a functional biology platform that enables the creation of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo model systems for drug discovery. Tranzyme was founded in 1999 by Drs. John C. Kappes and Xiaoyun Wu, authorities in gene vector technology and distinguished faculty members in the School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They have developed proprietary technology platforms with particular applicability to cell-based assay systems for drug discovery. The company has assembled a seasoned and knowledgeable management team led by Dr. Vipin K. Garg, President & CEO, Dr. Ram Ramabhadran, Senior VP of Research & Development and Lindsay N. Donald, VP of Business & Preclinical Development. The principals have extensive experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Tranzyme will use its proprietary TranzVector gene delivery system to create neuronal cell lines expressing single or multiple AD-related genes for use in high-throughput assays of beta-amyloid production. Using similar technology, Tranzyme will create rapid and inexpensive non-transgenic mouse models for AD drug discovery. In addition, Tranzyme will create a transgenic rat model for AD. "Our support of Tranzyme is consistent with ISOA's mission to provide early stage biotechnology companies with funding for specific research programs related to drug discovery for Alzheimer's disease," stated Howard Fillit, M.D., Executive Director, ISOA. "We are proud to support Tranzyme in their development of new animal models for Alzheimer's disease that will be key to the preclinical discovery and development of new drugs." "Tranzyme's ability to express genes in relevant mammalian systems is critical for developing cellular and animal models for drug discovery," said Vipin K. Garg, President & CEO of Tranzyme. "First, we can express highly 'amyloidogenic' genes in neuronal cells in order to develop more sensitive and relevant high throughput screens and secondary assays. Second, we can express such genes more efficiently in live animals and in embryos to create genetically modified animal models such as the rat that are ideal and more suitable to these studies than the mouse." Drug discovery for AD has been limited by several factors, one of the most important of which has been the unavailability of relevant, sensitive cellular and animal models to screen drug candidates. Development of rapid and clinically relevant cellular and animal model systems will accelerate drug discovery for AD. ISOA is a biomedical venture philanthropy whose mission is to catalyze and fund the discovery and development of new therapies to prevent and treat cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease. Since 1998, ISOA has committed more than $17 million in support of 80 research projects at leading academic institutions and biotechnology companies in seven countries. ISOA is a New York-based private foundation established by the Estee Lauder Trust. Mrs. Estee Lauder is the Honorary Director. Co-founders Leonard A. Lauder and Ronald S. Lauder serve as Co-Presidents. For more information about ISOA visit http://www.aging-institute.org. Tranzyme, Inc. is a privately held drug discovery and development company uniquely focused on the treatment of diseases associated with the neurosensory system including the eye, the ear, the chemosensory system (taste and smell) and the brain. Tranzyme has developed a proprietary functional biology platform based on gene delivery and controlled expression from in vitro to ex vivo to in vivo. Tranzyme is leveraging its technology through partnerships and internal programs to drive the discovery and development of novel therapeutics. The company has already established a dozen strategic partnerships around the world and has secured access to a number of important therapeutic targets for neurosensory diseases. For more information about Tranzyme visit http://www.tranzyme.com |