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MORRISVILLE, N.C., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- PPGx, Inc., a leading global provider of pharmacogenomic products and services, has launched a yearlong, renewable partnership with the Bioinformatics Research Center at North Carolina State University (N.C. State). Collaboratively, researchers from PPGx and the N.C. State Bioinformatics Research Center will develop and implement statistical methodologies to speed and enhance the analysis and interpretation of pharmacogenomic data.
"PPGx has a long-standing commitment to achieve the most detailed understanding of genomic information possible and turn it into usable science for drug developers, healthcare professionals and, ultimately, patients," said PPGx President and CEO Josh Baker, Ph.D. "This collaboration with the Bioinformatics Research Center is an important step in our efforts to develop the highest quality bioinformatics tools and services that help researchers analyze the exploding quantity of genomic data more effectively than ever before."
Pharmacogenomics is the science of using genetic information to predict the safety, toxicity and/or efficacy of drugs in individual patients or groups of patients. With the fields of pharmacogenomics and bioinformatics moving at such a rapid pace, researchers at both PPGx and the N.C. State Bioinformatics Research Center believe it is essential to ensure that research is being designed and conducted to the highest, most reliable and most useful standards.
"The Bioinformatics Research Center at North Carolina State University is recognized as one of the premier research and graduate programs of its type in the country," continued Baker. "The synergy of combining their research abilities with our bioinformatics expertise and understanding of pharmacogenomics makes this an ideal partnership that will benefit PPGx and our clients for years to come."
"We are delighted to expand our research operations with leading private- sector companies such as PPGx," said Bruce Weir, Ph.D., of the N.C. State Bioinformatics Research Center. "This partnership -- the second of its kind for us -- puts our researchers in daily contact with PPGx scientists so that we can jointly test research methods and study genomic data. The process allows us to share our resources and expertise while providing our graduate students hands-on experience with a leading pharmacogenomics company. It's the best of both worlds."
Weir noted that one of the first collaborative tasks would be to characterize the inherent variation in readings from micro-arrays -- one of the principal sources of information in pharmacogenomic research.
About PPGx
PPGx (http://www.ppgx.com ) provides technical and consulting expertise in the application of pharmacogenomics to optimize and accelerate drug discovery and development. Combining genetic research technologies from its computational and research divisions, GLP/CLIA global laboratory services and a comprehensive bioinformatics platform, PPGx provides pharmacogenomic solutions for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. A joint venture formed in February 1999 between PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPDI) and Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AXPH), PPGx is committed to the discovery of predictive genetic markers for use in clinical trials to result in delivery of therapeutic and life-saving medicines. PPGx pharmacogenomic services and products are exclusively marketed by PPD, Inc.
About the NCSU Bioinformatics Research Center
The Bioinformatics Research Center (http://statgen.ncsu.edu ) was established by the U.N.C. Board of Governors and is located in the Partners II building on the N.C. State Centennial Campus, adjacent to the Genome Research Laboratory, the Fungal Genomics Research Center and the Forest Biotechnology Research Center.
SOURCE PPGx, Inc.
Web site: http://www.ppgx.com
CONTACT: Roger Friedensen of Epley Associates, 919-877-0877, or
friedensen@epley-ral.com , for PPGx, Inc.
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