WILMINGTON, Del.--Bioinformatics will be used to develop diagnostic and therapeutic targets under terms of a new agreement between VIMRX Pharmaceuticals here and Columbia University. The development work will be based on two cancer genes, recently identified by scientists at the Columbia Genome Center, that control non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
The agreement grants VIMRX Genomics, a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical company, the rights to the gene licenses and patents developed through the partnership. A spokeswoman for VIMRX said Columbia's four-person bioinformatics team will be used in the target development efforts. "To enhance the commercial potential of these important genes, VIMRX will seek technology strategic alliances with pharmaceutical and/or diagnostic companies to develop a cancer gene package that includes the identified and validated gene target, functional assays, and candidate diagnostic or therapeutic molecules," commented Richard Kouri, president of VIMRX.