| Galapagos Genomics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Gene Function Collaboration Mechelen, Belgium, August 22, 2001 -- Galapagos Genomics NV, the Belgian functional genomics company, today announced a research collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to identify the function of proteins encoded by novel genes in selected target protein families. Under the terms of the agreement, Galapagos will provide through its PhenoSelect expression platform custom-based recombinant adenoviruses for protein targets of interest to Vertex’s small molecule drug design efforts. Vertex will utilize the collection of adenoviruses provided by Galapagos for characterization of protein activity within targeted biological pathways. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed. “This collaboration demonstrates the high value of our adenoviral technology platform for functional genomics applications,” said Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos. “We are pleased to partner with a top tier biotechnology company like Vertex and contribute to the selection of drug targets for their drug discovery programs.” Galapagos Genomics is a privately held company headquartered in Mechelen, Belgium. The Company was established in 1999 as a joint venture between Crucell NV (Nasdaq: CRXL; Leiden, The Netherlands), and Tibotec-Virco NV (Mechelen, Belgium). The Company has built a functional genomics platform using arrayed adenoviruses containing human genes to identify drug targets and therapeutic genes. Galapagos technology is based on the patented PER.C6 human cell line expression platform. 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 65 people, including 18 PhD's, and occupies a 15,000 sq.f. research and production facility in Mechelen, with additional research laboratories in Leiden, The Netherlands. Galapagos’ current partners include Bayer, Incyte Genomics, Isotis, Organon, UCB Pharma, and the Netherlands Cancer Institute. For more information, visit Galapagos' web site at www.galapagosgenomics.com. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) is a global biotechnology company. Vertex seeks to discover, develop, and commercialize major pharmaceutical products independently and with partners. Chemogenomics, Vertex's proprietary, systematic, genomics-based platform, is designed to accelerate the discovery of new drugs and to expand intellectual property coverage of drug candidate compounds and classes of related compounds. This approach, which targets gene families, has formed the basis for several commercial collaborations that retain rights to downstream revenue for Vertex. Vertex's first approved product is Agenerase® (amprenavir), an HIV protease inhibitor, which Vertex co-promotes with GlaxoSmithKline. Vertex has 12 drug candidates in development to treat viral diseases, inflammation, cancer, autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders. For more information, visit Vertex’ web site at www.vrtx.com. Galapagos
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