Ezose Sciences Enters Glycomics Research Agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin
Kyowa Hakko Kirin to Fund Projects Exploiting Ezose's GlycanMap® technology
PINE BROOK, N.J.--Ezose Sciences Inc. today announced that it has entered a research agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd. to collaborate on glycomics studies using Ezose's proprietary GlycanMap® technology platform.
Under terms of the research agreement, Kyowa Hakko Kirin will fund several glycan-biomarker and other discovery projects, with an option for further research and development. Other details of the agreement were not disclosed.
"We look forward to putting our unique glycan-analysis capabilities to the service of the specific research interests of Kyowa Hakko Kirin," said Hidehisa Asada, Ph.D., Vice President, Research & Development of Ezose. "As the structure of our collaboration anticipates, the research will seek new discoveries that enable novel therapeutic strategies and sustain the flow of new products to market."
About Glycomics
Glycomics is the study of glycans, the sugar chains that during the biochemical process known as glycosylation become attached to many proteins expressed by human cells. The particular glycans involved may crucially determine the function of the resulting glycoprotein and its role in health and disease.
Glycomics is a natural complement to genomics and proteomics, but it has traditionally been hindered by the lack of practical high-throughput and quantitative technologies. Ezose's proprietary GlycanMap® platform addresses this need by combining, in an automated 96-well format, high-throughput glycan enrichment with specialized MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and custom bioinformatics to both structurally identify and quantitate glycans present in complex biological samples. Such glycans can serve as novel biomarkers to aid in the development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tests, including companion diagnostics. In addition, glycomics holds potential for uncovering new therapeutic targets and mechanisms and for guiding the development and manufacture of glycosylated biologics and biosimilars.
About Ezose
Ezose (pronounced ā-zōse) Sciences Inc., based in Pine Brook, NJ, is dedicated to advancing glycomics to improve scientific understanding and healthcare. Ezose's proprietary GlycanMap® technology platform brings a new dimension to biomarker discovery by enabling glycomics research on a scale comparable to that of genomics and proteomics. Ezose offers glycomics capabilities ranging from glycan analytics and biomarker discovery to diagnostic development and commercialization. The company tailors these capabilities to the needs of corporate partners under collaborative R&D and analytical-services agreements.
Established in 2009 as a US company, Ezose is an affiliate of the Diagnostics Division of Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan. For more information, visit www.ezose.com.
About Kyowa Hakko Kirin
Kyowa Hakko Kirin is a leading biopharmaceutical company in Japan focusing on its core business area of oncology, nephrology and immunology/allergy. Kyowa Hakko Kirin leverages antibody-related leading-edge technologies to discover and develop innovative new drugs aiming to become a global specialty pharmaceutical company which contributes to the health and well-being of people around the world. For more information, visit http://www.kyowa-kirin.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on expectations in light of the information currently available, assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Risks and uncertainties include general domestic and international economic conditions such as general industry and market conditions, and changes of interest rate and currency exchange rate. These risks and uncertainties particularly apply with respect to product-related forward-looking statements. Product risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, completion and discontinuation of clinical trials; obtaining regulatory approvals; claims and concerns about product safety and efficacy; technological advances; adverse outcome of important litigation; domestic and foreign healthcare reforms and changes of laws and regulations. Also for existing products, there are manufacturing and marketing risks, which include, but are not limited to, inability to build production capacity to meet demand, unavailability of raw materials and entry of competitive products. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts
Ezose business:
Scott A. Siegel, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer
Main: 862-926-1950
Direct: 862-926-1952
[email protected]
or
Ezose media:
Richard Koenig at Biosyntax LLC
Office: 610-359-1626
Cell: 610-213-0725
[email protected]