Immusol Initiates Collaboration With Affymetrix to Advance Oncology Drug Discovery Efforts

Immusol Initiates Collaboration With Affymetrix to Advance
Oncology Drug Discovery Efforts 


SAN DIEGO, June 22  /PRNewswire/ -- Immusol announced today that they have
initiated a strategic collaboration with Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) that
will facilitate the discovery and characterization of new as well as existing
targets for cancer therapies.  Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Immusol will utilize Affymetrix GeneChip(R) technology to identify distinct
oncology pathways from its engineered tumor cells in biological assays.  These
modified cancer cells were developed at Immusol by specific down-regulation of
tumor suppressors or oncogenes.  Using GeneChip brand technology, expression of
associated, affected genes will be analyzed and compared.  The program aims to
elucidate potential novel transformation pathways and to acquire and validate
additional therapeutic target candidates. Moreover, targets will be examined
over time and with varying perturbational events, allowing mechanistic
information about a drug or drug target effect. Immusol will retain all rights
for any discoveries.

"Expanded use of the GeneChip technology will accelerate our discovery efforts
and should allow us to gain valuable insight into the mechanism and therapeutic
potential of current and yet-to-be-discovered targets for cancer therapies,"
said Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal, Immusol's Chief Scientific Officer and Executive
Vice President of Research.

Tarif Awad, Sr. Scientist for Genomics Collaborations at Affymetrix, commented
"Affymetrix is excited to enter into this scientific collaboration with
Immusol.  The work will demonstrate the even broader applicability of GeneChip
technology as a tool for analyzing the complex interactions between genes in a
living system.  We anticipate many exciting discoveries for Immusol's research
team."

About Immusol:

Immusol is a privately-held San Diego based biopharmaceutical company engaged
in the discovery and development of novel therapies to treat human diseases. 
Immusol uses an integrated biology approach, starting with a proprietary drug
discovery technology to discover therapeutic proteins and targets in the areas
of cancer, viral infection, ophthalmic and metabolic diseases.  Based on these
discoveries, Immusol develops protein and small molecule based therapies alone
or in collaboration with drug development partners.  Immusol has several drug
candidates in various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development. 
Additional information can be found at http://www.immusol.com/. 

DATASOURCE: Immusol



CONTACT:  Brian Culley, Associate Director, Business Development &

Marketing of Immusol, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.immusol.com/ 

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