Galapagos Genomics and VIB Announce Functional Genomics Collaboration in Alzheimer’s Disease

Mechelen, Belgium, and Ghent, Belgium, August 30, 2001 -- Galapagos Genomics NV, the Belgian functional genomics company and the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) today announced a collaboration to identify and validate novel drug targets against Alzheimer’s Disease.

The collaboration combines Galapagos’ PhenoSelect gene function discovery platform with VIB’s extensive expertise in Alzheimer’s Disease. Under the terms of the collaboration, Galapagos will screen its human gene library using VIB’s proprietary cell-based presenilin-gamma-secretase assays designed to identify genes involved in Alzheimer’s Disease. Gamma-secretase is known to generate a cleavage product, which has been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Genes identified by Galapagos that modulate the gamma-secretase activity will be further validated as potential drugs or drug targets in a joined effort by Galapagos and the group of Dr. Bart De Strooper, a renowned Alzheimer’s Disease expert from VIB’s department within KULeuven.

“This collaboration is an important step forward for us as a target discovery focused company. Access to VIB’s expertise in the Alzheimer field will enable us to capitalise on the promising targets emerging from our discovery research.” said Onno van de Stolpe, Galapagos’ CEO. “The symbiosis resulting from collaborating with Bart De Strooper’s group has great potential for discovery of new Alzheimer’s Disease targets for further pharmaceutical development.”

"This technology provides us with an unique opportunity to identify functionally components of the presenilin-gamma-secretase complex. This enigmatic protein complex plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease." said Bart De Strooper.

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, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, UCB Pharma, Organon, Isotis and the Netherlands Cancer Institute. For more information, visit Galapagos' web site at www.galapagosgenomics.com.

VIB is a not-for-profit research institute founded in 1996 and based in Flanders. VIB comprises 9 research departments located at 4 Flemish universities. VIB forms a joint venture with these 4 universities. The institute currently counts 720 scientists and technicians and has a yearly budget exceeding € 50 million. Major fields of research are cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, cell biology, proteomics, functional genomics and plant biotechnology. VIB is actively involved in tech transfer, including building a patent portfolio, collaborating with industry, creating start-up companies and exploiting a bio-incubator. VIB also supplies biotech information to the public. For more information, visit VIB' web site at www.vib.be.

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