| Galapagos Genomics and Bayer Enlarge Target Validation Collaboration Mechelen, Belgium, 10 July, 2002. Galapagos Genomics NV, the Belgian functional genomics company, today announced that it has expanded its functional genomics collaboration with Bayer with targets that will be used for in vivo validation studies. Under the terms of the agreement, Galapagos will provide Bayer with adenoviral vectors containing human genes selected by Bayer. Galapagos will construct the recombinant adenoviruses using its PhenoSelect® gene expression platform. Bayer will use the adenoviruses to introduce and express newly discovered genes in disease relevant animal models to study the function of the corresponding proteins. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed. In June 2001, Galapagos and Bayer Yakuhin (Japan) entered into a target validation agreement in the field of asthma. With Bayer Biotechnology (Berkeley, USA), Galapagos successfully completed a feasibility study aimed at in vivo validation of selected targets. In this study, Bayer was able to confirm that several selected targets play a major role in the modulation of the disease. “This is Galapagos’ 10th target validation collaboration since we established the PhenoSelect platform, demonstrating that our adenoviral technology has become a standard and widely accepted tool for drug target validation” said Dirk Pollet, PhD, VP Business Development of Galapagos. “Both parties were extremely satisfied with the data obtained so far and we are very pleased to further contribute to Bayer’s validation of targets for drug discovery.” Galapagos Genomics is a privately held company headquartered in Mechelen, Belgium. The Company has built a functional genomics platform using arrayed adenoviruses containing human genes. It's PhenoSelect libraries are in a format that enable high-throughput screening using cellular assays. Galapagos is using its technology platform for the discovery and validation of proprietary drug targets and for partnering with biotech and pharma. It’s proprietary research programs focus on Alzheimer, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis. The Company currently employs 81 people, including 21 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 Pharmacia, Bayer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Incyte Genomics, Exelixis, Procter&Gamble Pharmaceuticals, UCB Pharma, Organon (Akzo Nobel) and Euroscreen. The shareholders are Abingworth Management, Apax Partners, Burrill & Company, NIB Capital, Crucell Holland BV (Nasdaq, Euronext: CRXL) and Tibotec-Virco NV. Contact
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