DNAprint Genomics (DNAG)

[worktoplay]

Haven't had a chance to review the complete 10K, but will be posting comments when I can. Wanted to point out something very interesting to the board, however.

Someone posted the IBM/Affymetrix Collaboration PR yesterday on RB. The complete PR is a very interesting read. The timing of it's release, given the DNAPrint/Moffitt collaboration, is interesting as well. For instance, compare this from the IBM/Affymetrix PR:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040330/sftu036_2.html

The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute at the University of South Florida is collaborating with IBM and Affymetrix to design innovative clinical trials that take into account the latest genetic research findings and determine tailored treatment options for Moffitt patients.

"At Moffitt, we're committed to adopting the latest technologies to help researchers and clinicians speed cancer screening and diagnosis," said William Dalton, MD, Ph.D., CEO, Moffitt Cancer Center. "In order to quickly identify patients at risk and select potential clinical trial participants, we constantly seek out new solutions. Taking advantage of IBM's data integration services and life sciences expertise along with the Affymetrix GeneChip technology could lead to revolutionary ways to target cancer treatment."

The IBM/Affymetrix solution is being designed to enable genetic data, such as how genes are expressed in a disease state, to be cross-referenced with patient data, including medical histories and lab tests. This data integration will make it quicker and easier to translate research findings into new, more individualized therapies and diagnostics. It will also help clinical trial investigators choose the best potential candidates for clinical trials -- and help improve trial successes -- by matching patient history with a particular genetic profile.

It appears that the Affymetrix array will be geared towards gene expression, i.e. proteomics. Analysis of expression products, integrated with medical histories and tests, will define a precise phenotype for the individual genes involved in the disease. Not coincidentally, this is also a required data element for the work that DNAPrint will be performing at Moffitt. From the DNAPrint/Moffitt PR:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040329/flm018_1.html

The study design will aim to first discover and then evaluate the predictive power of predictive Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers in tandem with biomarkers from gene expression chip and proteomics research currently under way at Moffitt. The first colon cancer study will involve 100 patients. Other phases of this particular project will permit a retrospective alignment of genetic risk and epidemiologic factors, and prospective evaluation of chemotherapy response prediction in the setting of GLP and FDA-approved clinical trial setting.

So the question is, has Moffitt decided to set up competing collaborations and compare the respective benefits? Or is the entire effort complimentary, with each company contributing their particular expertise towards a 21st Century model system for pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine?

JM(half-educated)O, but looks like the latter to me. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Later,
W2P