| Galapagos and The Netherlands Cancer Institute Announce Functional Genomics Collaboration in Oncology Leiden, The Netherlands, December 13, 2000 -- Galapagos Genomics NV, the functional genomics joint venture between Crucell NV (NASDAQ: CRXL) and Tibotec NV, and the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) today announced a broad collaboration to identify and validate novel targets for cancer therapy based on functional genomics. Under this agreement, Galapagos and the NKI will combine Galapagos’ PhenoSelect gene discovery platform with the scientific expertise of the NKI in oncology. The PhenoSelect libraries of Galapagos are collections of recombinant adenoviruses that express human genes. These libraries are used in combination with cellular assays to identify disease specific targets. Galapagos recently completed the construction of it’s first PhenoSelect library, which contains over 100,000 arrayed adenoviruses harbouring genes originating from human placental tissue. The NKI has extensive expertise in developing assays to study the cellular processes that are deregulated in cancer. Combining the expertise of the two organisations provides a powerful platform to identify new targets for cancer therapies. Under the terms of the agreement, Galapagos obtains commercialisation rights on the outcome of the collaboration. In the first project within this collaboration, Galapagos is screening its PhenoSelect library to identify novel genes involved in cell cycle regulation. The group of Prof. Dr. René Bernards from the NKI will validate the genes identified in the library screen. "We are pleased to collaborate with the Netherlands Cancer Institute, a world renowned cancer research centre. The combination of their extensive expertise in cellular processes involved in cancer with our functional genomics platform is a powerful alliance,” said Onno van de Stolpe, Galapagos’ Managing Director. “This collaboration fits our strategy to leverage the usage of our PhenoSelect libraries by providing access to this platform through collaborations with academic centres." "Through this collaboration we gain access to a unique and powerful technology to identify novel genes in cancer-relevant pathways," said Professor Dr. René Bernards, of the NKI. "In the post-genome era there is a great need to screen thousands of anonymous genes for function." Galapagos Genomics is a privately held company headquartered in Mechelen, Belgium. The Company was established in 1999 as a joint venture between Crucell NV, and Tibotec NV. The Company has built a functional genomics platform using arrayed adenoviral vectors containing human genes to identify drug targets and therapeutic genes. Galapagos technology is based on Crucell’s patented PER.C6 human cell line expression platform and Tibotec’s high throughput screening expertise. Galapagos has an exclusive licence to use PER.C6 for functional genomics applications. It’s PhenoSelect libraries are in a format that enable high-throughput screening using cellular assays. The Company currently employs 54 people, of which 15 are Ph.D.'s, and occupies a 11,000 sq. ft. research and production facility in Mechelen, with additional research laboratories in Leiden, The Netherlands. For more information, visit Galapagos’ web site at http://www.galapagosgenomics.com.
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