NEW YORK, Dec. 28 (GenomeWeb News) - Perlegen Sciences and Pfizer have penned a four-year alliance to study whole genomes in an attempt to identity genes linked to undisclosed diseases and drug response, the companies said today.
The announcement, which comes one day after Perlegen disclosed Pfizer bought a 12-percent stake in it for $50 million, calls for researchers from both companies to conduct whole genome studies involving DNA samples from clinical trials. Perlegen will genotype the samples using Affy arrays.
Additional terms of the agreement between Perlegen and Pfizer call for the firms to share "certain" intellectual property rights that could result from the collaboration. Pfizer will provide research payments to Perlegen.
Pfizer and Perlegen originally allied in December 2002 in order to study DNA samples in areas such as metabolic syndrome and drug response in patients with Major Depression Disorder.