Aurora Biosciences Licenses GFP Technology to Ceres, Inc. for Agricultural Applications
SAN DIEGO and LOS ANGELES, Calif. – October 3, 2000 – Aurora Biosciences Corporation and Ceres, Inc., an integrated plant genomics company, announced today that they have signed a license agreement for Aurora's proprietary fluorescent protein technology for use in agricultural applications.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ceres was granted non-exclusive rights to use Aurora's green fluorescent protein ("GFP") technology, one of Aurora's genomic platforms, for in vitro and in vivo research and development activities and to provide selected services to third parties. This multi-year license agreement includes an upfront technology access fee, annual license fees, and royalties on services provided to third parties. Aurora also has an option to acquire equity in Ceres. Chemical products produced by Ceres, based on the use of the GFP license granted, are subject to downstream payment obligations to Aurora.
"This agricultural genomics license represents the first license, under Aurora's functional genomics technology, for applications using plants. Ceres is a leading plant genomics company with a great track record and a proven management in this exciting field," said Christopher W. Krueger, J.D., Aurora's vice president, strategic alliances "This agreement is a demonstration of how Aurora's technologies can provide value and create new commercial opportunities in industries beyond pharmaceuticals."
"Aurora's proprietary GFP technology and intellectual property position further strengthen Ceres' integrated plant genomics platform," said Mark Vaeck, Ph.D., Ceres' chief operating officer. "GFPs will significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our functional genomics engine, which has led to the discovery of thousands of full-length genes and regulatory sequences in multiple plant species. In addition, GFP will augment our high-throughput platform for mode of action discovery of novel agrochemicals. Herbicides, our initial focus for mode of action discovery and screening, currently represent 15 billion dollars in annual sales."
Aurora's GFP technology is part of its portfolio of patented fluorescent technologies. GFPs are widely used as research tools, with over 2300 publications relating to GFP to date. Aurora's issued patents on GFP, which include over 200 claims are directed toward nucleic acids encoding fluorescent proteins, the fluorescent proteins themselves, and various fusion proteins. Aurora also has issued patents and applications pending on many uses of fluorescent proteins. Drug discovery-related applications of GFP technology include various methods of functional genomics, high throughput screening assays, and gene profiling to assess the potential toxicity of compounds. Researchers wishing to use Aurora's GFP technology for non-commercial purposes should contact Clontech Laboratories for information (800-662-2566). Customers desiring to use Aurora's GFP technology for commercial purposes should contact Aurora directly.
Ceres, Inc. is a privately held plant genomics company utilizing multiple technologies in an integrated, industrial assembly-line fashion, to rapidly discover plant genes and their functions. Ceres' technology platforms include high-throughput DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, mutant analysis, gene expression analysis, gene activation and gene inactivation technologies. Ceres applies the knowledge from these platforms in three major product development areas: target discovery and validation for agrochemical screening, the use of plants as feed stocks for chemical and pharmaceutical production and the development of high-value genetically enhanced crops. Ceres aims to become a leading provider of important plant traits and products to the agrochemical, chemical, healthcare, food, feed and fiber industries.
Aurora designs, develops and commercializes advanced drug discovery technologies, services and instrumentation to accelerate the discovery of new medicines. The Company's core technologies include a broad portfolio of proprietary fluorescence assay technologies, including its GeneBLAzer™ and VIPR™ technologies; its functional genomics GenomeScreen™ program; its automated master compound store, the AMCS, and its ultra-high throughput screening system (UHTSS™ Platform) and subsystems to miniaturize and automate drug screening and profiling assays. Aurora's technologies have been commercially validated by over 15 major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including American Home Products, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Eli Lilly & Co., Families of SMA, Glaxo Wellcome, Genentech, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer, Inc., and Warner Lambert Company, in the form of commercialization agreements for discovery services, licenses or instrumentation. For additional information on Aurora's services and products, please contact Sales and Marketing.
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements which involve a high degree of technological and competitive risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company's operations and business environment. Forward-looking statements regarding future annual or royalty payments by Ceres to Aurora may differ substantially from those stated herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include risks associated with the Company's dependence on patents and proprietary rights, which have inherent uncertainties and are subject to challenge from third parties, new and uncertain technology, dependence on pharmaceutical and biotechnology collaborations, and the development or availability of competing systems. These factors and others are more fully described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, and subsequent Forms 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For additional corporate information, visit the Aurora website. GeneBLAzer™, GenomeScreen™, UHTSS™ and VIPR™ are trademarks of Aurora Biosciences Corporation.
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