Study
to discriminate between competing hypotheses on mechanism of childhood autism
Palo
Alto, CA and San Diego, CA — April, 2004 —
Target
Discovery Inc., a discovery biology company,
and PrecisionMed Inc., a human sample biobank and
clinical trial organization, today announced they have entered into
a research collaboration designed to test competing theories concerning the
mechanism of childhood autism. Specifically, the research is designed to pinpoint
the source of certain opioid-like peptides that have been observed at elevated
levels in autistic children. Target Discovery and PrecisionMed’s goal is to
determine whether and how metabolic factors play a role in the development of
autism.
Under
the terms of the agreement, PrecisionMed will be responsible for collecting
samples from accurately characterized clinical
cases of autism patients, while Target
Discovery will use its metabolomics and systems biology modeling technology
to analyze these samples. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“This
collaboration will utilize Target Discovery’s MetaSIRMS™ metabolomics technology
and PrecisionMed’s skill in study design and execution to determine the source
of certain unusual opioid-like peptides whose levels are elevated in many autistic
children,” said Jeffrey N. Peterson, CEO of Target Discovery. “It was Target
Discovery’s systems biology approach incorporating mathematical modeling and
simulation of certain observed disease pathology that led to our novel study
strategy that is designed to resolve this twenty-year clinical debate. An
improved understanding of the mechanism of autism would provide physicians and
families important information towards improving treatment and possible prevention
strategies.”
“We
are excited at the prospect of making a significant contribution to the understanding
and management of childhood autism, and are pleased to be teaming with Target
Discovery’s innovative technologies on this important study. Accurate
phenotyping is particularly challenging in neuropsychiatric diseases, and PrecisionMed’s
extensive experience in this area will be pivotal to ensuring the success of
this study, ” said John S. Flax, MD, President
and CEO of PrecisionMed. “We are optimistic that this research could provide
an important milestone in unraveling the factors that predispose children to
the development of this disease.”
Certain
opioid-like peptides have been observed at elevated levels in the blood, urine,
and cerebrospinal fluid of many autistic children. Three different mechanisms
have been postulated in the scientific literature for this elevation: a malfunctioning
digestive process; infections of the digestive tract; or endogenous production
by the body. The collaborators have defined a novel investigation, utilizing
stable (non-radioactive) isotope metabolite studies of urine and blood samples
from autistic and control children enrolled in the study, to discriminate between
these competing theories.
About
Target Discovery, Inc.
Target
Discovery is a discovery biology company that seeks to alleviate critical bottlenecks
imposed by current technologies upon drug development and life science research.
The company is developing new platform technologies for the elucidation of high
quality biological data and for the conversion of that information into a confirmed
understanding of biological pathways. Pathway understanding enables new efficiencies
in the identification, selection and development of optimal disease targets,
biomarkers and drug candidates. Target Discovery is introducing selected technology
platforms in reagent and software products and engages in discovery collaborations.
The company is based in Palo Alto ,
California .
More information is available at www.targetdiscovery.com
.
About
PrecisionMed, Inc.
PrecisionMed
Inc. is a privately held human sample biobank in the San
Diego , California
area. The company conducts clinical trials
for the collection of human genetic material including proteins and metabolites
linked to audited clinical phenotypic information. Samples and data are banked
and marketed to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and academic
institutions. PrecisionMed has banked appropriately consented collections with
controls for genetic and proteomic molecular diagnostic research in neuropsychiatric
disorders including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, major depression
and bipolar I disorder, as well as in other diseases
including cystic fibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis .
Accurate phenotyping is particularly challenging in neuroscience and PrecisionMed
has extensive experience in this area. De-identified clinical data are
provided electronically. New collections are added on a regular basis, with
sample types including DNA, RNA, serum, plasma, urine and cerebrospinal fluid.
