Boehringer Ingelheim and Galapagos Genomics team up in antiviral discovery research program

Mechelen, Belgium, 11 November 2003 -- Boehringer Ingelheim and Galapagos Genomics have entered into a collaboration in the field of antiviral discovery research. Under the terms of this agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will use Galapagos’ SilenceSelect^TM gene knock-down platform to perform a genome wide screen for all drugable genes that influence viral replication in human cells.

SilenceSelect^TM is a collection of adenoviruses with siRNA based knock-down sequences targeting over 4,000 human drugable genes, where drugable represents those gene classes of most value for pharmaceutical development. In return for access to the SilenceSelect^TM collection, Galapagos Genomics will obtain up front technology access fees and will be eligible for further option and license fees during the program. Further financial terms were not disclosed.

“This collaboration will give us a cutting edge in the identification and validation of targets that will form the basis of innovative drug design. By concentrating on the drugable genes we will be able to take targets very quickly into drug screens, thereby expediting our drug discovery process,” said Dr Paul Anderson, Vice President R&D at Boehringer Ingelheim’s virology research center in Laval, Canada.

“This deal confirms that Galapagos’ SilenceSelect^TM platform is ideally suited to find novel genes that are key regulators of disease processes. We are delighted to be Boehringer Ingelheim’s partner in this antiviral discovery research program,” said Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos Genomics. “Combining Boehringer’s expertise in virology research with our adenoviral based knock-down collection has the potential to deliver drugable targets for small molecule screening within a six month period”.

Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 156 affiliates in 44 countries and a total of about 32,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

In 2002, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 7.6 billion euro while spending about one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription Medicines on research and development.

For further information about Boehringer Ingelheim please visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Galapagos Genomics
Galapagos Genomics is a discovery company focused on the rapid identification and validation of disease modifying drug targets by functional screening in human disease models. The research activities encompass the internal programs in osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and Alzheimer's disease, as well as numerous partnerships with leading pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and biotech companies.
Proprietary targets resulting from our internal programs are used for the development of drugs in our core disease areas, combined with selected out-licensing and partnering of projects during development. The Company currently employs 90 people, including 22 PhD's, and occupies a 2000 sq.m. research and production facility in Mechelen, with additional research laboratories in Leiden, The Netherlands.

Galapagos’ other partners include Bayer, Euroscreen, Exelixis, Incyte, Johnson&Johnson, Organon, Pfizer, Procter&Gamble, UCB Pharma and Vertex. The shareholders are Abingworth Management, Apax Partners, Burrill&Company, NIB Capital Private Equity, Crucell Holland BV (Nasdaq, Euronext: CRXL) and Tibotec-Virco NV. More information on Galapagos can be found at the website www.galapagosgenomics.com. PhenoSelect™ and SilenceSelect™ are pending trademarks owned by Galapagos Genomics NV.

Contacts

Kerstin Felix
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
Corporate Division Communications
Boehringer Ingelheim Gmb
H55216 Ingelheim/Germany
Phone: +49 6132 77 9040
Fax: +49 6132 77 6601
E-mail to: Kerstin.Felix@ing.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Onno van de Stolpe, CEO
Galapagos Genomics Belgium
Phone: +31 6 2909 8028
E-mail to: onno@galapagos.be