NEW YORK, Jan. 7 — San Diego-based GeneFormatics said Monday that it would collaborate with Bristol-Myers Squibb to develop nuclear magnetic resonance software for high-throughput analysis of 3-D protein structures. The partnership also cross-licenses both companies' NMR software.
In the deal, the pharmaceutical giant will have access to GeneFormatics' accelerated NMR spectroscopy technology for protein structure analysis. In return, the structural proteomics company will be able to use Bristol-Myers Squibb analytical NMR technology.
This is the second protein analysis partnership between the two companies. In July 2000, the two struck a deal to determine potential therapeutic targets through analysis of protein function and structure.
GeneFormatics initially specialized in the computational prediction of protein structure, and has been expanding its efforts in proteomics. Last January, the company acquired Structure Function Genomics, which had developed its own high-throughput NMR techniques. In the fall, the company also struck a proteomics deal with three Bruker companies, including an equity stake.
GeneFormatics markets a proprietary "function first" approach to protein analysis, an effort designed to determine protein function prior to labor-intensive high-resolution 3-D structure analysis.