Berlin and Seattle, March 15, 2001 - Epigenomics, a transatlantic biotech company pioneering applications of DNA methylation, announced today that it will play a pivotal role in a DM 3 million (Euros 1.5 million) research project funded in part by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft (Donors\' Association for the Promoting of Sciences and Humanities in Germany). The project will analyze the activity of genes in the RAS tumor signaling pathway based on interpretation of DNA methylation in order to develop theoretical models revealing the interdependencies of genes and their methylation states in a complex disease. Joining Epigenomics in the project are Prof. Reinhold Schäfer´s and Dr. Christine Sers´ research group at Germany´s largest research hospital, Charité, Prof. Hanspeter Herzel from the Institute for Theoretical Biology (ITB) of Humboldt University, both Berlin, and Prof. Jörn Walter, Head of Genetics at the University of the Saarland, Saarbrücken.
\"This is the first time that an entire oncogene pathway is being investigated on both a gene expression and a DNA-methylation level,\" stated Prof. Reinhold Schäfer, Head of Molecular Tumor Pathology and RNA-Expression Genetics at Charité. \"We believe that this study will ultimately enable a better diagnosis and treatment of certain cancers in the future.\"
The three partners will analyze the RAS signaling pathway, a molecular cascade of events implicated in cancer, using biochips for DNA-methylation detection versus mRNA expression typing. A research project conducted by Charité last year (Zuber et al., Nature Genetics, Vol 24, February 2000) has already identified more than 200 genes stimulated or repressed by the RAS oncogene using mRNA expression analysis. Epigenomics´ unique chip technology will now investigate the activity of the tumor pathway´s genes by profiling their DNA methylation status in close collaboration with Prof. Walter´s group. The information obtained will be used to model the interdependencies within the genetic signaling pathway by Prof. Hanspeter Herzel and his group at the ITB.
\"We are excited to substantiate the fundamental importance of DNA methylation in tumor genesis with this new group of highly proficient partners,\" added Christian Piepenbrock, Chief Information Officer of Epigenomics. \"This groundbreaking study brings together Epigenomics, the world-leader in DNA methylation, and two of Germany´s premier research institutions, to collaborate in a public private partnership.\"
Epigenomics is a transatlantic biotechnology company with headquarters in Berlin, Germany and its wholly owned subsidiary in Seattle, Washington, USA, pioneering tomorrow\'s personalized medicines. By detecting DNA methylation patterns, the \"on\" and \"off\" signs for genes, Epigenomics can create a digitized readout (Digital Phenotype(r)) for each tissue. The comparison of healthy and sick tissue enables an exact diagnosis of disease at a very early stage and reveals new therapeutic opportunities. The combination of diagnosis and therapy, based on this epigenetic information and our robust proprietary technology, is leading the way to improving patients\' quality of life. Epigenomics is the world\'s first and only company focusing exclusively on DNA methylation and its importance in the post-genomic age, and is supported by the world\'s premier network of academic researchers and clinicians with expertise in the field of cancer and DNA methylation. For further information, please visit our website at www.epigenomics.com.
