Ventana Genetics Develops Novel Method for Rapid Drug Target Discovery

Researchers at Ventana Genetics have developed a novel approach to rapidly identifying key molecules and genes involved in physiological processes, as published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The company's method, which combines functional screening with advanced genetics and assay technologies, can be applied to human cell models of disease and represents a unique approach to drug target discovery. The "perturbagen" method uses proprietary recombinant proteins or peptide fragments to disrupt physiological functions of critical proteins in live cells, directly identifying novel, validated targets for drug discovery.

Key Takeaways:

• Ventana Genetics' novel method uses "perturbagens" to disrupt physiological functions of critical proteins in live cells and identify novel, validated targets for drug discovery.
• The approach combines traditional functional screening with advanced genetics and assay technologies, allowing for rapid identification of key molecules and genes involved in physiological processes.
• The method can be readily applied to human cell models of disease, offering a unique approach to drug target discovery.
• The perturbagen approach uses proprietary recombinant proteins or peptide fragments to bind to naturally-occurring proteins inside the cell, perturbing their normal biochemical interactions.
• The method has been demonstrated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an established yeast model system, and has the potential to be applied to human diseases such as cancer and viral infection.
• Ventana's advanced function-based approach uses "perturbagens" to disrupt the physiological functions of critical proteins in live cells and then directly identify novel, validated targets for drug discovery.
• The method has several fundamental advantages, including straightforward synthesis of perturbagen libraries, rapid production of millions of perturbagen variants, and access to all intracellular targets.

Statistics:

• The Ventana Genetics' novel method has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
• The company has over 20 years of experience in the biotechnology industry.
• Ventana Genetics has a team of experienced researchers, including Alexander Kamb, Ph.D., Vice President of Research.
• The company has a strong pipeline of drug targets and is currently focusing on cancer and viral infections in human somatic cells.

Sources:

• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
• Ventana Genetics, Inc.
• M. Scott Salka, Chief Executive Officer of Ventana Genetics, Inc.
• Kelly Overly, Ph.D. of Feinstein Kean Partners Inc.