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WILMINGTON, N.C., May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- On the first anniversary of the sequencing of the human genome, a panel of international experts will examine the latest advances in the application of pharmacogenetics to drug development and clinical practice at a symposium next month.
"Pharmacogenetics 2001: Drug Development in a Genetically Informed Environment" will be held Friday, June 15 at the N.C. Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park, N.C. The event is sponsored by PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPDI) in conjunction with the N.C. Biotechnology Center. PPD is the exclusive distributor of pharmacogenetic products and services provided by PPGx, Inc., a subsidiary of DNA Sciences, Inc. (http://www.dna.com ). DNA Sciences has provided additional support for the symposium.
There is no charge to attend the daylong conference; however, advance registration is required and space is limited. Interested individuals can register online at the pharmacogenetics link at http://www.pgxsolutions.com .
The presentations will explore a number of issues related to pharmacogenetics, including the impact of genetics on drug development and health-care practice; ethical, legal, social and regulatory issues surrounding pharmacogenetics; and practical issues in incorporating pharmacogenetics in drug discovery and development.
The symposium features internationally recognized experts in genetics and drug discovery and development, including:
-- Carol Isaacson Barash, Ph.D., Genetics, Ethics & Policy Consulting;
-- William Evans, Pharm.D., St. Jude Children's Research Hospital;
-- Bartha Maria Knoppers, Ph.D., University of Montreal and the
International Ethics Committee of the Human Genome Organization;
-- Klaus Lindpaintner, M.D., MPH, Roche Genetics, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
AG;
-- Terry Magnuson, Ph.D., University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Department of Genetics and the Carolina Center for Genome Sciences
-- Loren Miller, Ph.D., PPD Development;
-- Allen Roses, M.D., GlaxoSmithKline; and
-- Raymond White, Ph.D., DNA Sciences and the University of Utah.
"With the completion of the human genome sequencing, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical professionals are striving to incorporate genetics into the discovery and development of safer, more effective diagnostics and therapeutics," said Fred Eshelman, CEO of PPD. "Consistent with our commitment to genomic research, PPD hopes that this symposium will help accelerate the pace at which drug researchers and developers employ pharmacogenetics to improve health-care outcomes."
About PPD
PPD, Inc. is a leading global provider of discovery and development services and products for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. With a corporate mission to provide services that maximize the return on clients' R&D investments, PPD provides innovative technologies, therapeutic expertise and comprehensive services for drug discovery and preclinical programs, Phase I-IV clinical development, and post-market support. The company has more than 3,800 professionals in 48 facilities in 20 countries around the world. PPD is the exclusive marketer of pharmacogenetics products and services from PPGx. For more information on PPD, visit the Web site at http://www.ppdi.com .
About the N.C. Biotechnology Center
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center (http://www.ncbiotech.org ) is a non-profit corporation funded by the N.C. General Assembly. Its mission is to ensure that the state gains long-term economic benefits from development of the biotechnology industry. The Center works toward five goals: assist biotechnology business development; strengthen the biotechnology capabilities of the state's universities; educate the public about biotechnology; encourage collaborations among the state's universities, industry and government; and strengthen the state's leadership in biotechnology.
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions, including expectations and assumptions about the value of this educational forum to PPD, contained in the foregoing are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although PPD has used its best efforts to be accurate in making those forward-looking statements, it is possible that the assumptions made by management may not materialize. In addition, other important factors which could cause results to differ materially include the following: economic conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; dependence on collaborative relationships; rapid technological advances that make our products and services less competitive; loss of large contracts; competition within the outsourcing industry; continued success in sales growth; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, copies of which are available upon request from PPD's investor relations department.
Media Contact:
Nancy Zeleniak
+919 462 4088
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http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X51735674 SOURCE PPD, Inc.
Web site: http://www.dna.com http://www.pgxsolutions.com
http://www.ppdi.com http://www.ncbiotech.org
CONTACT: Nancy Zeleniak of PPD, 919-462-4088, or
nancy.zeleniak@rtp.ppdi.com
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